The St. Louis Cardinals have sent top prospect back to Triple-A Memphis following a short stint in the majors. He briefly filled in for Masyn Winn during his time on the injured list, made an early impression in his second taste of big-league action but has since cooled off at the plate. With Winn now healthy and back in the lineup, the team has opted to allow him more time to develop in the minors.
Initially called up to cover for Winn at shortstop, He remained with the team even after Winn’s return last Tuesday, thanks to a strong start in which he notched hits in each of his first nine starts. However, a recent slump—just one hit in his last 11 at-bats and back-to-back hitless games against the Brewers—prompted the team to make a change.
Despite the recent dip in production, Thomas Saggese’s overall numbers remain impressive, as he’s hitting .341 with a home run and seven RBIs over 14 games. Ranked as the Cardinals’ No. 5 prospect before the season, his versatility across second base, third base, and shortstop makes him a valuable asset moving forward. For now, however, the Cardinals are playing it safe with his development.
In a corresponding move, St. Louis is promoting Jose Barrero, a former top prospect from the Cincinnati Reds organization. Barrero brings speed and defensive value but has struggled offensively in previous MLB appearances, batting just .186 across 139 games with four home runs and 32 RBIs. That said, his recent Triple-A performance—a .299 average with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 23 games—earned him another chance in the big leagues. He’s expected to contribute off the bench.
The Cardinals, fresh off a series win against Milwaukee, will kick off a four-game series against the Reds on Monday night at 6:40 p.m. ET.