Matt Carpenter

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #12 prospect in 2012
  One of the final cuts in big league camp last spring, Carpenter won praise and playing time with his keen eye and live bat throughout exhibition play. He made his St. Louis debut in June, getting a brief 15 at-bat sip of the majors. Drafted as a fifth-year senior out of Texas Christian and signed for a $1,000 bonus, he's aware that time and age aren't on his side. Talent is. Carpenter led the system with a .418 on-base percentage in 2010 and followed that with a .417 OBP in 2011. His lack of batting gloves and his early-bird workouts got attention during spring training, but he projects as a high-average hitter because of a quick, elegant swing and advanced feel for the strike zone. He stopped swinging from a standstill and added a weight shift that elevated his power and led to 44 extra-base hits in 2011, including 29 doubles. He could hit 15 homers annually as an everyday player in the majors. Carpenter is a below-average runner but he can make some slick plays at third base when he gets moving. His arm and range at third are adequate, and he's working to become more comfortable on his backhand. He's pinched with David Freese in St. Louis and Zack Cox closing from behind him. Carpenter hasn't played the outfield in pro ball but he may get a look there in spring training in hopes that added versatility could help him win a spot on the big league bench.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #11 prospect in 2011
  A fifth-year senior who signed for $1,000 as a 13th-round pick in 2009, Carpenter led St. Louis farmhands with a .418 on-base percentage in 2010. With his smooth lefthanded swing and feel for the strike zone, Carpenter has the tools to hit for a high average and get on base at a high clip. Some scouts question whether he has the power required for third base. He swings from a standstill, and the Cardinals have encouraged him to work on developing a weight shift and increasing his strength so he can have more pop. All 12 of his homers at Springfield came in a 58-game burst. Carpenter has good instincts at third, but his range and arm are merely adequate. He's a below-average runner but will steal a base if the opposition forgets about him. Caught between incumbent big leaguer David Freese and 2010 first-rounder Zack Cox, Carpenter has a small window of opportunity. He'll advance to Triple-A this season.