Cardinals Farm Report: Nathan Church Shaping Up to be Underdog Prospect
Like the Independence Day celebrations that rang throughout the country last week, the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system had its fair share of fireworks in the first sixth days of the new month.
Advertisement
Here are some of the week's top performers and a player to keep an eye on in the near future:
Nathan Church, Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A)
Church has been putting on a masterful performance at the dish for the Redbirds since being called up on June 3. He continued the trend with seven hits, six RBI, three runs and four walks in 20 at bats last week.
The team's No. 21 prospect has been even better with Memphis than he was with Double-A Springfield, slashing .356/.436/.574/1.010 in 101 at bats with the team.
St. Louis Cardinals No. 21 prospect Nathan Church warms up during spring training on Feb. 17. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Jimmy Crooks, Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A)
Fellow Redbird, and No. 6 prospect, Crooks had an excellent week at the dish, racking up seven hits - including a double and a grand slam - and a walk for six RBI and three runs scored in 22 at bats. Crooks has found his footing at Triple-A after struggling at the plate earlier in the year, currently riding a 10-game hit streak dating back to June 22.
Advertisement
JJ Wetherholt, Springfield Cardinals (Double-A)
A name likely to be added to this list repeatedly until he's in the big leagues, Wetherholt maintained his dominance at the plate with three extra base hits last week. The No. 1 prospect's first career multi-home run game resulted in seven RBI and four runs scored in that span.
Wetherholt continues to prove those around him who speak well of him right, including Cardinals' right fielder Jordan Walker, who spoke highly of the top prospect when he joined the team last week.
Player to keep an eye on:
Deniel Ortiz, Palm Beach Cardinals (Low-A)
Ortiz, 20, has quietly been having an exceptional first full professional season. The third baseman was recently named the Florida State League Player of the Month for June after leading the league with a .556 slugging percentage and a 1.005 OPS.
Advertisement
Though still far from the big league level, he could be a player the Cardinals look to in the future at third base with the uncertainty still remaining around Nolan Arenado.
Related: Cardinals Announce Nolan Arenado News Before Cubs Game
Related: Jordan Walker Addresses IL Stints, Team Struggles Ahead of Cardinals-Cubs Series
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees' Amed Rosario lands on IL, expects to miss the minimum 10 days
The Yankees have lost another of their trade deadline acquisitions. Amed Rosario has been placed on the 10-day IL with a left SC joint sprain. Rosario collided with the left field wall on Friday, and it appears he'll have to miss some time. The speedster did tell reporters that he expects to be able to return after the minimum 10 days, though, which is certainly encouraging news. Rosario has appeared in just four games since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, going 3-for-7 at the plate with a double and an RBI over that span. Outfielder Austin Slater is also currently sidelined with an injury and reliever Jake Bird is down in Triple-A after struggling mightily in his first few outings, leaving New York without three of their new pickups. In a corresponding roster move, catcher J.C. Escarra has been recalled from Triple-A. Escarra has served as New York's No.2 backstop this season, but he was sent down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week to make room for Slater.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Jack Sammarco
A new face to the program this season, Jack Sammarco is a name to watch for in the Alabama Crimson Tide's tight end room this fall. Coming to Alabama via the NCAA transfer portal, Sammarco wasn't necessarily the highest-rated recruit coming out of high school, but did end up seeing a notable amount of action a year ago as a true freshman at West Virginia. Also committing to Alabama during the spring portal window, how much could Sammarco now play during year one in Tuscaloosa? Here is a preview of the 2025 season for new Alabama tight end Jack Sammarco. Jack Sammarco player information Positon: Tight End Jersey Number: No. 85 Height: 6'5 Weight: 252 Class: Sophomore Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio High School: Anderson Jack Sammarco career stats Sammarco is entering his second season of college football this fall, the first of which was spent playing in the Big 12 at West Virginia. During his lone season with the Mountaineers, Sammarco appeared in 13 games where he had one reception for four yards, while also returning a kickoff for five yards. Jack Sammarco 2024 stats As mentioned previously, Sammarco's 2024 season was his first in college football, appearing in 13 games while at West Virginia. Sammarco hauled in a reception for four yards, while also returning a kick for five yards, a year ago. Jack Sammarco recruiting ranking Prior to attending West Virginia, Sammarco was considered as the nation's No. 1,475 overall prospect in the 2024 class, as well as the No. 74 tight end nationally, per the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings. A three-star prospect, Sammarco was also considered the No. 61 overall prospect in the state of Ohio where he attended Anderson High School. This past offseason, Sammarco was considered as the No. 893 overall player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports, as well as the No. 47 tight end. Rated as a three-star transfer, Sammarco committed to Alabama in April 2025. Jack Sammarco 2025 season outlook Due to the depth in Alabama's tight end room, it is likely an unknown as to how much action Sammarco could see in 2025. An offseason transfer addition, Sammarco likely enters the 2025 campaign as a depth option due to the presence of Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr., but is still a backup who could see action. In fact, Sammarco's past experience at West Virginia could play a role, as compared to some of Alabama's other top backups, the Big 12 transfer is the lone player who has seen noteworthy action at the power four level. Overall, expect Sammarco to see time for Alabama in 2025, but for the West Virginia transfer to likely not start this fall, and to end up potentially being a key rotation option. Jack Sammarco 2025 season prediction 2025 Prediction: 5 receptions, 30 yards Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football 2025 preview, predictions: Jack Sammarco
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jimbo Fisher expresses interest in coaching again: 'Still got a lot to give'
Jimbo Fisher wants to get back into coaching. The former Texas A&M football coach, who was fired in November of 2023 despite holding a winning record with the Aggies, made his desire to return to college football clear on an appearance on the "Trials to Triumph" podcast with Freddie Stevenson this week. "People have asked me that ... If the right situation comes along and it's right, I'm still 59. I'm still in great shape, I'm healthy, have had success everywhere we've ever been," Fisher told Stevenson, who played for Fisher at Florida State from 2013-2016. "… The way the game is, yes, I still do because I still love it. "... I never thought of it as a job. I loved it. And I think to be able to do it, I would. I've been fortunate, I've won 72% of my games, won 80% of my playoff games and been fortunate to win a national championship as a head coach, as an assistant. I miss the relationships with the players. But to ask you that, yeah, I would be very interested in still doing it because I think I've still got a lot to give and I'd like to get back out there. I really would." REQUIRED READING: College football poll rankings hot takes: SEC whips Big Ten in preseason, but not playoff In the interview, Fisher also brought up his time in the SEC and Texas A&M and how "unfortunate" the end of his tenure in College Station turned out to be. "The end at A&M, it's unfortunate, but we also had the highest-ranked team they ever had there in 2020. Our quarterbacks got hurt. We played with first-team, third-team … It was hard to get play-calling and guys around. ... Didn't pan out like we needed to," Fisher said. Coming off a 51-10 win against Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Fisher parted ways in November of 2023. In his buyout from Texas A&M, Fisher was awarded a record-breaking $77.6 million, a value that caused quite the skepticism in then-Aggies athletic director Ross Bjork's decision. REQUIRED READING: New Mexico football, Jason Eck parody 'The Office' to promote free kids' tickets Hired away from Florida State ahead of the 2018 college football season, Fisher went 45-25 overall and 3-0 in Bowl Games in his six seasons at Texas A&M. Though Texas A&M was ranked in each season under Fisher, the Aggies underperformed in the SEC under Fisher, which also led to his departure. Following a hot 26-10 start at Texas A&M in his first three seasons, the Aggies went 19-15 in his final three seasons. His best season at Texas A&M came in 2020 when he led the Aggies to a 9-1 record, which included a win at the Orange Bowl. For that season's success, Texas A&M awarded Fisher with a fully guaranteed 10-year, $94 million contract extension that would have kept him under contract through the 2031 season. The extension is what led to Fisher's gigantic buyout. Fisher holds an all-time record of 128-48 over his tenures at Florida State and Texas A&M. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimbo Fisher 'very interested' in coaching college football again
