Three hours before game time, with the temperature hovering near 100 degrees at Hammons Field, Dakota Harris emerged from a weight-lifting session to take a round of ground balls. As others headed for the air-conditioned clubhouse, Harris stuck around afterward to shag fly balls in left field.
The extra work did not go unnoticed by Springfield Cardinals manager Patrick Anderson.
“He’s an unbelievable young man, who works hard at everything he does,” Anderson said of Harris. “He’s a man of many talents. That gives him a lot of opportunity to hopefully, down the road, possibly play his way into the big leagues at different positions.”
Especially if the 23-year-old utility man can show consistent power with the bat like he did on July 29 in Springfield’s series-opening 3-2 victory over the Arkansas Travelers. Harris hit two home runs, including the go-ahead blast in the seventh inning, to boost the first-place Cardinals.
Harris has worked to develop his defensive skill set
Springfield Cardinals infielder Dakota Harris fields a ground ball on Thursday, July 30, 2025, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)
Harris — an 11th-round draft choice in 2023 out of Oklahoma, where he was one of the nation’s top shortstops — has hit four of his nine home runs in July. It’s arguably been the best offensive month of his professional career, with a .356 batting average in 59 at-bats this month and nine of his 19 stolen bases.
Defensively, he’s been a version of stop-leak all season for Springfield, playing all four infield positions and even one game in left field. He’s been at third base in 38 games while spending 20 at second base, 15 at first base and three at his natural position of shortstop.
“As a whole, he’s adapted,” said Anderson, who managed Harris when both were at High-A Peoria in 2024. “He’s just an athlete and, you know, it just gives him more opportunity.”
Harris said he spent a lot of time last offseason working on his defensive skill set at different locations on the field. Cardinals minor-league infield coordinator Jose Oquendo worked with Harris during spring training to further expand his versatility.
“Cheo’s (Oquendo) obviously helped, but like Noah (Mendlinger) here, he plays a ton of positions and wherever our name is in the lineup, that’s where we work out for that day just to kind of get a feel for it,” Harris said.
Mechanical adjustments and video work boosting Harris’ power
We give that two big BOOMS. Dakota Harris has teed off twice tonight! pic.twitter.com/75XMv7iotc
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 30, 2025
At the plate, Harris already has matched his home run total of 2024 when he split time between Peoria and Springfield. The home runs in the series opener were big for a Cardinals team that has struggled a bit offensively since top prospect JJ Wetherholt was promoted to Triple-A Memphis.
Harris said it’s been a combination of mechanical adjustments, along with video work with hitting coach Casey Chenoweth, to increase his power potential.
“I think it’s more so just catching more barrels and then it happens,” Harris said. “Just trying to get good pitches to hit and … just working off of the machines and getting as many (game reps) as I can, which is in turn gonna make me better.”
Just like versatility in the field, Anderson said Harris’ uptick in power with his above-average speed can make him a legit prospect to climb the ladder and reach St. Louis at some point.
“His biggest thing is the strike zone discipline,” Anderson said of Harris. “We talk about it all the time. Understanding strikes. That’s with all the players. So, he’s adapted with certain parts of it, and needs to get better with that, and that’s what he’s striving to do every day.
“But he’s got a little juice in his bat. A gap-to-gap type hitter, very aggressive, trying to be able to be controlled and aggressive in the zone. And once he hones in on that, I think he’s going to be really, really good.”
Harris sees similarities between SGF playoff teams
Springfield Cardinals shortstop Dakota Harris prepares for an at-bat against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Hammons Field. (Photo by Mary Ellen Chiles)
Aware that the minor leagues are primarily for individual development, Harris said he feels fortunate to be a part of Texas League North playoff-bound Springfield teams in back-to-back seasons. Even with a lot of roster turnover, he said the teams have similar traits.
“Both pitching staffs are great. We’ve got good offenses,” Harris said. “I think both teams know how to play the game, just on all facets, whether it’s running the bases, getting bunts down, putting competitive at-bats together and that kind of stuff.”
Rehabbing big leaguers
Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman watches his home run fly out of the ballpark on Thursday, July 30, 2025, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman began an injury rehab assignment with Springfield on July 29, going 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. On Wednesday, he was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Gorman said before the July 29 game that he was not sure how many games he would be at Hammons Field, where he spent a couple of months with Springfield in 2021.
“I feel great,” said Gorman, who went on the injury list with a back strain just prior to MLB’s All-Star break. “I think it’s just seeing pitches, getting your timing back and going from there.”
Manager Patrick Anderson said Gorman took part in all the team’s usual pre-game activities, including fielding and base-running drills.
“I said, ‘It’s up to you whether you want to do it,’ and he jumped right out there. It just tells you what type of a human he is,” Anderson said. “He wants to get after it and be a part of everything, so it’s good for our guys to be able to see that type of personality and what type of worker he is.”
Outfielder Lars Nootbaar, on the IL with a left (side) costochondral sprain, joined Springfield for a rehab assignment beginning on July 30.
Springfield Cardinals homestand
July 29 — Springfield 3, Arkansas 2
July 30 — Springfield 6, Arkansas 4
July 31 — Arkansas at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 1 — Arkansas at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 2 — Arkansas at Springfield, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 3 — Arkansas at Springfield, 6:05 p.m.
Ticket info — (417) 863-2143
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