As is tradition around these parts after the season is over, we’re taking a look at every player that got into a game for the St. Louis Cardinals this season. That’ll range from someone that didn’t record an out to someone that played almost every inning. Treat it like they are stopping by the manager’s office (umm, also imagine this was before the managerial change) on their way home for the winter for a performance review. Stats listed are ones generated during their time with the Cards and the grade is based not only on their performance but on the expectations for them going into the season. As he has the past few years, the legend that is cardinalsgifs has provided our excellent header image!
Player: Bernardo Flores Jr.
Season stats: Infinity ERA, 1 G, 0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, Infinity FIP, Infinity WHIP, 0.0 bWAR, 0.0 fWAR
Statcast: .632 xwOBA, 0.0 barrel %, 99.0 exit velocity, 100.0 hard hit %, 0.0 K %, 66.7 BB %
Best Statcast category: Max Exit Velocity (96th percentile)
Worst Statcast category: None
Hero/Goat: None
Grade: F
Positives: Had a 5.74 ERA at Memphis, which doesn’t sound like a positive but at least he got people out there….had a couple of good outings for Memphis, giving up one run in 9.2 innings in May….got claimed when the Cardinals put him on waivers, so he had value to someone else.
Negatives: When you don’t get anyone out in your Cardinal career, that’s not a good thing….I mean, it was a 5.74 ERA at Memphis….walked 18 in 31.1 innings for the Redbirds….gave up six home runs in those 31.1 innings as well.
Overview: If there was anyone on the 2021 team that you will get stumped on when listing out people five years from now that played for the Cardinals, it’s Flores. Half of you reading this probably don’t remember that he was a Cardinal, or didn’t until this post popped up. However, we cover everyone in this series so consider him covered.
Outlook: Flores was picked up by the Rockies when the Cardinals let him go but by the end of the season they had designated him for assignment to have him off their 40-man, though he stayed in their organization. He’ll probably get a chance in spring training but he’s going to have to show a lot more than he has up to this point for another major league cup of coffee.
