Cesar

Prieto

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.

Prieto signed with the Orioles as an amateur free agent out of Cuba in January of 2022. The 24-year-old infielder has been terrific in 364 plate appearances between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season — slashing .349/.393/.475 with six homers, 49 RBI and seven stolen bases. With Paul DeJong shipped out of town and Brendan Donovan facing season-ending surgery, perhaps Prieto gets an opportunity with the Cardinals sooner rather than later.

No word on the exact financial terms of the agreement, but the Orioles were considered the favorites to ink Prieto for roughly $750,000 at the outset of the international signing period. The 22-year-old middle infielder defected from the Cuban national team at an Olympic qualifying tournament last May and has a chance to move quickly though the rebuilding Orioles’ minor-league system. There’s a realistic chance he makes it to the majors during the 2022 season.

Romero, who is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, adds that Prieto is expected to sign for roughly $750,000. The 22-year-old middle infielder defected from the Cuban national team at an Olympic qualifying tournament last May, but major-league rules restrict Cuban players under the age of 25 (with fewer than six years of professional experience) from signing outside of the international bonus pool system. He had been playing professionally since 2017 with the Elefantes de Cienfuegos of the Cuban National Series and has a chance to rise quickly through the rebuilding Orioles’ minor-league system.