MARCH 11, 2025 • STLTODAY.COM
As camp continues, what will Cardinals look for in bullpen competition? Cardinals Extra The Cardinals got a look at three of the right-handed bullpen candidates on Tuesday against the Marlins as Roddery Munoz, Gordon Graceffo an...
Brad Lord - Flashing improved velocity Lord has been sitting 95-96 mph with his fastball in camp this spring, a significant improvement on the 92-93 mph he averaged in the minors last season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com re...
Impact The Nationals have had some impressive success in the last couple years turning unheralded prospects into major-league arms, and Lord might be the next hurler to join that list. An 18th-round pick in the 2022 Draft, the 25-year-old right-hander pitched at three levels last year, finishing his breakout campaign with a 3.93 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB over 55 Triple-A innings. His success largely came from the deception in his nearly sidearm delivery, but if Lord has developed a legitimate fastball, it could position him for a spot in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Mervis - Goes yard Monday Mervis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals.
Impact His second-inning shot off Mitchell Parker was the second homer of the spring in eight appearances for Mervis. The 26-year-old slugger has made some loud contact in camp, batting .292 (7-for-24) with two doubles in addition to his long balls, but his 1:9 BB:K suggests he still needs to make more frequent contact to be a trustworthy fantasy asset -- he has a career 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 126 big-league PAs.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Jesús Sánchez - Clubs first spring homer Sanchez went 1-for-2 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals.
Impact The outfielder turned on a Mitchell Parker pitch in the fourth inning for his first long ball of the spring. Sanchez dealt with a sore elbow earlier in camp and has struggled to find his timing at the plate, going 3-for-22 (.136) in nine Grapefruit League appearances with a 2:7 BB:K. He's healthy now however, and could even open the season as the starting center fielder given the Marlins' lack of appealing options at the position.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Xavier Edwards - Gets busy on basepaths Edwards went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and two stolen bases in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals.
Impact The steals were the first of the spring for Edwards, who is batting .320 (8-for-25) through nine Grapefruit League appearances. After a breakout 2024 season, the shortstop is looking to build on a performance that saw him swipe 31 bags in 35 attempts over just 70 games while delivering a .328/.397/.423 slash line.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Sandy Alcantara - Building up pitch count Alcantara gave up two unearned runs on four hits over 2.2 innings in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Impact The right-hander tossed 57 pitches (33 strikes) as he continues building up ahead of an Opening Day assignment for the Marlins. Alcantara missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he worked over 180 innings each of the prior three seasons, and manager Clayton McCullough indicated over the weekend that Miami's ace would not face a hard innings limit in 2025. Alcantara hasn't done anything this spring to suggest he needs one, posting a 0.00 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Connor Norby - Launches first spring homer Norby went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals.
Impact The third baseman took Shinnosuke Ogasawara deep in the first inning, giving Norby his first homer of the spring. The 24-year-old slashed .247/.315/.445 with seven homers and 17 RBI in 36 games last season for the Marlins after being acquired from the O's, and while his minor-league track record suggests he can improve on those numbers once he gets comfortable in the Show, his 32.1 percent strikeout rate with Miami needs work. Norby's gone 8-for-28 (.286) through nine appearances this spring, but that comes with a 1:7 BB:K.
MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
