Cardinals Like The Sound Of A Moises Gomez Encore
There were many ways to measure the thunderous, surprise and record-setting season Moises Gomez had after the Cardinals signed the minor league free agent to provide some depth for Double-A Springfield.
Decibel level is one.
“He just showed up and his bat got louder and louder as the season went,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. “It’s nice to see . . . That type of bat—it’s just not going to be easy to find.”
What the Cardinals must calibrate next is whether the ruckus Gomez made in his first year with the organization carries into a second year and all the way to the majors. They’re going to give him that chance.
The Cardinals added the 24-year-old corner outfielder to the 40-man roster on Nov. 8 before he qualified for minor league free agency. He will be in big league camp after setting a Cardinals minor league record with 39 home runs in 2022, while batting .294/.371/.624 in 120 games for Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.
The Cardinals believe Gomez is capable in the outfield.
“It’s not all bat and hope,” Mozeliak said.
Gomez ranked as the Rays’ No. 10 prospect in 2019 but saw his rise stalled by the lost year of 2020.
When he returned, Gomez appeared in 76 games for Double-A Montgomery but hit just .171/.256/.309. The Cardinals signed him for Double-A depth, and he quickly became an important part of other hitters’ development, providing support around top prospect Jordan Walker in the Springfield lineup.
Gomez adjusted his swing by ditching a leg kick. He became more balanced and steadier in the box, which helped his pitch recognition. He also came to the Cardinals slimmer but with the same aggressiveness—he struck out 39% of the time—and strength that made him a power prospect.
REDBIRD CHIRPS
— Cardinals 2016 first-round pick Delvin Perez was among the players in the organization granted minor league free agency. The 23-year-old shortstop hit .223/.315/.314 and advanced to Triple-A Memphis this season. The Cardinals signed Perez for $2.2 million as the 23rd overall pick out of high school in Puerto Rico. He advanced as standout defensive talent and embraced a workout regimen that added strength, but he did not consistently produce offensively.
— Lefthander Connor Thomas was selected as the starter for the Arizona Fall League’s Fall Stars Game. Thomas has thrown his way into the Cardinals’ considerations for lefty relief in 2022 after a strong AFL. In the prospect exhibition game, he was joined by three Cardinals teammates: outfielder Jordan Walker, shortstop Masyn Winn and righthander Tink Hence.
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