Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
Player: Thomas Saggese
Stats: 18 G, 52 PA, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .204/.250/.306, -0.2 bWAR
Statcast: 2.9% barrel, 45.7% sweet spot, 108.4 max exit velocity, .247 wOBA, .248 xwOBA, 26.9 K%, 3.8 BB%
Grade: C
How much does Tommy Two Sags count toward a development win for the Cardinals? He was obviously doing well in the Texas organization, which is why the Cardinals targeted him in the Jordan Montgomery trade. However, he finished up the ’23 season on a tear, winning league MVP, and while he didn’t quite keep up that pace in ’24, he did hit 20 homers for Memphis with a .751 OPS, getting a late-season call up to the big team. Does simply not messing him up count as a win these days?
Saggese also went out to the Arizona Fall League and had some tremendous success out there, taking from a conversation he had with Andrew Kittredge about how to approach an at bat. He showed more patience at the plate, looking for his pitch instead of flailing at ones he couldn’t do damage with. After striking out 122 times in Memphis and 14 more in St. Louis, he walked more than he struck out in Arizona. Perhaps the Cards should have signed Kittredge as the hitting coach.
What’s in store for 2025: Saggese’s prospects depend on how much the roster turns over this winter. If Nolan Arenado is moved, he’s a no-brainer to be on the team, very likely a regular second baseman as Nolan Gorman slides to the hot corner. If Arenado stays, there’s probably still a role for him on the big league club. After all, they had Matt Carpenter as a flexible reserve last year. Saggese would be quite the upgrade from that.
