The Cardinals have announced that they are calling up 22 year old top infield prospect Thomas Saggese (suh-JAY-see). He will be the 9th player to make his major league debut for the Cardinals this season.
Saggese, 22, was acquired by the Cardinals from the Texas Rangers on July 30, 2023, along with LHP John King and minor league RHP Tekoah Roby in exchange for LHP Jordan Montgomery and RHP Chris Stratton.
For Memphis, he hit .253/.313/.438 with 20 home runs, 23 doubles, three triples, nine steals (in 13 attempts), a 23.1% strikeout rate and 5.9% walk rate in 528 plate appearances this season. In July, Saggese was named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month. He also won the organizational award in August of 2023 in Springfield (AA) while leading all of Minor League Baseball with 170 hits last season.
Baseball America describes Saggese as a “bat-first middle infielder” with an aggressive approach but above-average contact skills and a knack for barreling the ball.
The Cardinals have two open spots on their 40-man roster, but a 26-man corresponding move needed to happen and that move is Victor Scott II being optioned to Memphis.
The 2023 Texas League (AA) Most Valuable Player has started 124 games this season at Memphis playing three defensive positions at shortstop (69), second base (42) and third base (12) and one game at designated hitter.
The Cardinals are 6.5 games out of a National League Wild Card Spot and 10 back of the NL Central division lead with 19 games remaining.
He will wear uniform No. 25.
