April 10, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.-- In addition to its seven major leaguers by the end of the month, the Cardinal should have another 15 playing in the minors.
Major Leaguers from Stanford in 2012 | All-Time Major Leaguers | 2012 Pro Players
Former major leaguers, Cord Phelps (Indians), Greg Reynolds (Rangers), Michael Taylor (A's) and John Hester (Orioles) all begin the season in Triple-A. Reynolds was one of the last pitchers cut for his new team, the Rangers. Taylor and Phelps made their MLB debuts in 2012. Hester was traded to the off season to the Orioles.
First round pick Chris Reed (6.75 ERA in 4 games) is again with Rancho Cucamonga, the Dodgers' Single-A affiliate, where he was rated as the Dodgers' fifth best prospect last year and is the Dodger prospect with the best slider.
LHP Scott Snodgress, (3.88 ERA in 17 games) a fifth round pick last year for the White Sox will begin his first full season at Single-A Kannapolis after a 3.34 ERA in 12 starts in rookie ball, where he was rated as the 14th-best prospect in the Pioneer League.
Eleven-year minor league veteran Jason Cooper (.253 average in 751 games) is back in affiliate ball after signing with the Pirates in November, 2011. The last two years for St. Paul, the former Cardinal outfielder hit .322 in 2010 and .284 in 2011. Cooper, a third round pick in 2002, was once rated as high as No. 7 in the Indians system in 2003.
RHP Erik Davis (4.06 ERA in 99 games) is starting his fifth pro season in Double-A Harrisburg for the Nationals, while 3B Colin Walsh (.245 average in 130 games) begins his third pro season with Single-A Quad Cities of the Cardinals organization,
Mariners farmhand RHP Jordan Pries (3.71 ERA in 12 games), Giants prospect RHP Danny Sandbrink (2.53 ERA in 15 games), Diamondbacks C Zach Jones (.279 in 35 games) will all begin their first full pro seasons in 2012.
RHP Jeff Inman (1.80 ERA in 17 games) remains in the Pirates organization after two seasons. LHP Jeremy Bleich (4.87 ERA in 36 minor league starts) has not pitched since 2010 and is on the disabled list for the Yankees Double-A club. OF Sean Ratliff (.273 average in 318 games), a former fourth round pick of the Mets and top-25 prospect in 2009, remains with the club having not played last year due to injury.
The following players were released or quit following the season, according to Baseball America in early April: Jim Rapoport, a six year minor leaguer last with St. Louis, Brandt Walker (Astros), Will Krasne (Indians), Austin Yount (White Sox), Wande Olabisi (Padres), Adam Gaylord (Orioles), Jonathan Kaskow (Reds), Kellen Kiilsgaard (Astros) and Jake Schlander (Mariners).