The four-day baseball-wide break during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week is about the only thing able to slow down the Springfield Cardinals’ momentum.
Despite roster shuffling that saw top prospect JJ Wetherholt promoted to Triple-A, Springfield continues to dominate the Texas League after winning the North Division first-half championship. There has been no letdown, even after clinching a playoff berth.
The Cardinals return to Hammons Field on July 18 to open a three-game homestand against the Wichita Wind Surge with a league-best 57-32 record following a six-game road sweep last week at Corpus Christi. Springfield is a season-high 25 games above .500 and is on pace to soar past the franchise-record 79 wins set last season.
Springfield is 13-5 in the second half, two games in front of the Arkansas Travelers.
Ever heard the phrase “Don’t mess with Texas?” The Cardinals have ignored that, going 25-5 against Texas teams this season, including 16-2 in games played in that state. The Cardinals have been particularly impressive against Corpus Christi, going 11-1 against the Hooks after dominating the six games last week by a combined score of 40-12.
Rewind: Pitching staff impresses
Brycen Mautz of the Springfield Cardinals (MEC photo)
The starting rotation of Ixan Henderson, Brycen Mautz, Hancel Rincon, Max Rajcic and Pete Hansen combined to quiet the Corpus Christi hitters, with Mautz doing so twice. The 2022 second-round draft choice pitched 10 innings in two starts during the series, allowing one run, one walk and striking out nine.
Rincon was named St. Louis’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June, joining Henderson (April) and Tekoah Roby (May) in winning that award this season. Rincon has been a big part of the staff, stepping into the rotation after Roby was promoted to Triple-A Memphis on June 9.
After signing as a then-16-year-old in 2019, Rincon is in his sixth season in the St. Louis organization. He features a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, slider and a changeup, and has struck out 41 in 31 Double-A innings.
Fast forward: “Christmas in July” at Hammons Field
Fans are encouraged to get into the holiday spirit on Friday and Saturday at Hammons Field with the annual “Christmas in July” celebration, as the Cardinals, wearing Christmas-themed jerseys, play host to Wichita. Fans are encouraged to dress in their Christmas-themed threads — though with summer heat arriving in full force, it might be a little warm to don those ugly sweaters. Nevertheless, photo opportunities with Santa will be offered and there will be post-game fireworks both nights.
Eyes on the first-round draft pick
The St. Louis Cardinals selected pitcher Liam Doyle with the No. 5 selection in the Major League Baseball Draft. Doyle had a 10-4 record with 164 strikeouts in 95 ⅔ innings this season at Tennessee. (Photo by Tennessee Athletics)
It will be interesting to see if pitcher Liam Doyle, the Cardinals’ first-round draft choice and No. 5 overall selection on July 13, will pitch for Springfield at some point this season. Doyle, a 6-foot-2 lefty, had a 10-4 record with 164 strikeouts in 95 ⅔ innings this season at Tennessee. He held opponents to a .184 average.
“The fact that he’s able to miss bats with a couple different pitches and he really gets good separation on his fastball and [split-fingered fastball], I think that bodes well for his long-term chance to start,” Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores told MLB.com.
The Cardinals selected another high-velocity Tennessee pitcher with the 72nd overall selection, reliever Tanner Franklin. Clocked at 102 miles per hour this season, Franklin struck out 52 in 38 ⅔ innings.
Of the team’s 21 draft selections, 12 were pitchers, three were outfielders and three were shortstops. The Cardinals drafted one each at first base, third base and catcher.
Who’s hot
Springfield Cardinals right fielder Noah Mendlinger signs autographs during a recent homestand. (Photo by Mary Ellen Chiles)
Infielder Noah Mendlinger is hitting .328 with a .445 on-base average in 32 games in the leadoff spot — the Cardinals are 27-5 in those games. Mendlinger is the Texas League’s active leader in on-base percentage (.415), and is hitting .293 overall, with more walks (35) than strikeouts (24).
Who’s not
There’s no word from St. Louis if Jordan Walker’s injury rehab assignment will continue with Springfield as the season resumes this weekend. Recovering from appendicitis, Walker has struggled to regain his swing as he’s just 6-for-38 (.158) at the plate, though he did hit two home runs in the series at Corpus Christi.
Roby, Hence to IL
Springfield Cardinals pitcher Tink Hence throws from the mound during a game at Hammons Field. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)
Tekoah Roby, the Cardinals’ No. 10 prospect, had been on a roll at Memphis, allowing just two earned runs over 21 innings in his last four starts, with 21 strikeouts. But Roby was placed on the seven-day injured list July 15 with an undisclosed ailment.
A couple of days earlier, it was another setback for highly touted pitcher Tink Hence. The No. 3 Cardinals’ prospect went back on the seven-day IL after allowing five runs in 10 ⅔ innings spanning three starts for Springfield. There is no official word on Hence’s injury. The 23-year-old right-hander had returned last month after missing two months with a strained rib cage muscle he suffered late in spring training.
Cardinals prospect to watch
A year ago, left-handed starter Quinn Mathews was blazing through Springfield with sensational starts prior to an August call-up to Triple-A. This year, the organization’s No. 2 prospect continues to search for consistency at Memphis. In 11 Triple-A starts after being sidelined in April for shoulder discomfort, Mathews is 2-3 with a 4.43 ERA. While he has 43 strikeouts in 40 ⅔ innings, 39 walks have plagued Mathews.
Wichita prospect to watch
The Minnesota Twins’ No. 1 prospect will be at Hammons Field this weekend as Wichita visits for a three-game series. Outfielder Walker Jenkins, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2023 draft as a high school senior, is hitting .247 in 23 games for the Wind Surge, with two home runs and seven stolen bases.
Cardinals homestand at Hammons Field
Friday, July 18 — Wichita vs. Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, July 19 — Wichita vs. Springfield, 6:35 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 — Wichita vs. Springfield, 6:05 p.m.
Ticket info — Call (417) 863-0395
Lyndal Scranton is a Springfield native who has covered sports in the Ozarks for more than 35 years, witnessing nearly every big sports moment in the region during the last 50 years. The Missouri Sports Hall of Famer, Springfield Area Sports Hall of Famer and live-fire cooking enthusiast also serves as PR Director for Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri and is co-host of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Contact him at Lscranton755@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @LyndalScranton. More by Lyndal Scranton