Cesar

Prieto

Prieto had just 17 plate appearances since being called up on May 4, and he did not record a single hit in that timespan. He’ll head back to Triple-A Memphis — where he was hitting .311/.357/.566 before being recalled — and try to get things back on track.

Winn remains out of the lineup after making an early exit from Sunday’s game against the Royals with left knee discomfort. The 24-year-old hasn’t been sent to the injured list, which is an encouraging development. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. It’ll be César Prieto handling shortstop in his absence.

Prieto is hitting .311/.357/.566 in 28 Triple-A games with six home runs and 19 runs scored. He has just a 90 mph average exit velocity and 40 percent hard-hit rate, so the underlying metrics aren’t supporting that level of slugging, especially with a 57 percent groundball rate. The 27-year-old will most likely just be a bench bat for now.

Hence is not long removed from being an upper-echelon prospect, but he was limited to just 21 innings due to injury in 2025. Bernal is one of the top catching prospects in baseball but likely is a couple years away from making his debut.

Prieto’s homer traveled 339 feet down the left field line, whereas the double was hit 12 mph harder and went 392 feet to center. The 26-year-old Prieto made his major league debut last season, going 1-for-6 with five strikeouts in three games with the Cardinals. His chances of making the Cardinals as a utilityman took quite a hit when the team signed Ramón Urías earlier this month.

Prieto, who had his contract selected a week ago, went 1-for-6 with five strikeouts during his first stint in the majors.

Prieto has performed well in Triple-A in 2025 with a .296/.358/.453 slash along with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases. The 26-year-old isn’t considered a top prospect, but there’s enough upside in his bat that he could develop into a regular, with solid bench option a more likely landing spot. That’s the future, however, Prieto can be ignored for now in fantasy formats.

Crooks and Prieto will get a chance to make their MLB debuts in the series against Cincinnati. They will replace Alec Burleson; who is hitting the injured list because of his ailing wrist, and Yohel Pozo due to a head-related injury. Both have a chance to be regulars someday in the majors, but their fantasy value for 2025 will be limited.

As we head into the final days of spring training, you’re going to see every club trim down their roster like this. The Cardinals now have just 31 players remaining in big league camp. Saggese’s best chance of making the Opening Day roster was for the Cardinals to trade Nolan Arenado, but as that still hasn’t happened he’ll be ticketed for Triple-A Memphis to start the 2025 campaign.

No real surprises here as there’s simply no room for Baker, Rivas or Young at the highest level at the moment in St. Louis. The trio will head to Triple-A Memphis to continue serving as extra organizational depth. The latest batch of cuts pretty much ensures that reliever Andre Pallante and reserve outfielder Michael Siani will make the Opening Day roster.