Peoria Free Press: A First For the Cardinals

3.5 Seasons Later, Peoria Makes It's First Ever Minor League Draft Pick




For years, the front office staff in Peoria has used the All-Star break as an opportunity to plan family trips, interview for new careers, or simply bum around in their pajamas for three days. Heading into this season's all-star break it looked to be another opportunity for the Cardinals to save on the office's electric bill and take a few days off. Then, out of nowhere, GM Dave Grubb started blowing up the phone lines, taking an odd interest in jumping into the 2009 Minor League Draft process. But why??

I was able to catch up to the GM of the Cardinals this afternoon and asked him that very question. "Well, we have never really been fully content with our EHCC roster, so in the past it made sense to try and trade out of the Minor League Draft and acquire young talent that was a gaurantee. We took over an absolutely abismal team when we bought out the Plymouth Bells and are just now getting to a point where we feel we can compete on the field AND now start to think about how we can grow talent down on the farm for success in the future. When I took over for this franchise, I made it clear that winning at the big league level was top priority. I believe we have our finest team in the history of this franchise blossoming in Peoria, and it is about time we start to turn the Cyclones into a franchise to be proud of as well", stated the GM.

While it was widely known that the Cardinals were in discussions with several teams in hopes to move up high enough to draft C Buster Posey, the team seems more than happy with the addition of SP Jeremy Hellickson. Scouts around the league were slow to warm to Hellickson because of his smaller stature (6'1, 185 lbs), but the Cardinals believe this 22 year-old righty has a big future on their staff. In 2008, Hellickson ranked 2nd in all of the minor leagues with an 8.1 K/BB ration, while racking up 162 K's while walking only 20, in 152 innings. Thus far, Hellickson has backed up his 2008 numbers with just as impressive 2009 numbers (through 44 innings he has racked up 53 K's, with an ERA of 2.45).

After making his first ever minor league selection, GM Dave Grubb felt so excited over it he turned around and made another trade to acquire Greg Halman. Halman, a virtual unknown is seen more of a project than a prospect. With great power and speed, the question on Halman is if he will ever develop enough play discipline and contact to ever make his mark on the Peoria club. After posting a 29 HR, 33 SB campaign in 08, Halman has followed up with a Double-Eh leading 20 HR in the first half of 2009. If the team can get this guy to increase his contact and decrease his K's, he could end up patrolling the OF in Peoria with fellow youngsters Jay Bruce and Matt Kemp for years to come.

Nobody can question the approach the Cardinals have taken. Over the past 3.5 years, fans have seen the team go from the laughing stock of the league, to a legitamite playoff contender as we head down the stretch in 2009. It looks as though the team is finally beginning phase 2 in turning Peoria into a quality franchise from top to bottom that can eventually compete with the likes of Quebec City and Las Vegas. Stay tuned folks.

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