Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Do The Cardinals Already Have Their Next Super Utility Player?

Episode Date: February 21, 2024

Get to know Cardinals prospect Noah Mendlinger who is another one of those versatile ball players that the Cardinals organization cherishes! He bats left handed, can play infield and outfield, doesn't strike out much and is willing to do anything it takes to win!- Background- College- Undrafted- Minor Leagues- Teammate Reviews- MLB See Through Pants?(Photo: P.J. Maigi, Springfield Cardinals)Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOSTLCardinals?sid=YouTubeLocked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLBFollow on Twitter/X: @JDSPORTSRADIOFollow the show on Twitter/X: @LO_CardinalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BackblazeReceive a fully-featured no risk free trial at Backblaze.com/lockedonmlb. Go there, play with it, start protecting yourself from potential bad times!eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelNew customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)#ForTheLou #stlcards #mlb #lockedoncardinals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With spring training underway and minor league camp on the horizon, Cardinals prospect, Noah Menlinger joins us to talk a little ball today on today's episode of Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardals fans. I'm Jady Hafford and I'm a national radio sports anchor, born and raised in the Lou and a lifetime Cardinals fan. And I'm your host for Locked on Cardinals. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. team every day. You can follow me on Twitter X at JD Sports Radio. You can follow the podcast at L.O underscore Cardinals. We want to thank those of you who make Locked on Cardinals. Your first listen every day. We're free and available wherever you get your podcast. You can find us on YouTube if you want the visual aspects of the show.

If you come by YouTube, make sure you like and subscribe. Make sure you comment. Don't be shy. Be a part of the show. Interact with us and hit that notification button so you know when the new episodes are out so you don't miss any. This is a show serving Cardle Nation and giving the best fans in baseball, all of the info about the birds on the bat. Today's episode brought to you by Fandul. Make every moment more new customers join today and you'll get $150 in bonus bets. If your first bet of $5 or more wins, just visit Fandle.com slash locked on to get started. All right, as you can see, we have ourselves a guest today.

Noah Menlinger joining us, Cardinals prospect, getting amped up for minor league camp. But when do you guys officially start minor league camp? because a lot of people don't know that. Minor League camp technically starts on March 3rd, and that's with the full 140, 60 guys, however many there are in the org all together. But I'm at step camp right now, which is technically the early program.

So we got down here, and technically the first day of report was yesterday, the 18th, so our 19th, whatever day it is. But anyway, we've been down here for the last couple of days, got physicals in, and just started getting rolling on the field today, really. Now, the first thing, for those of you who haven't seen Noah before, played at Springfield this past year, as well as Peoria,

we're going to get into all of that. But something that is different about him compared to his pictures as he has cut his hair off. So if you were a fan of the long locks, they're gone. They're head, they're out because things get hot in Springfield or wherever you're playing ball in the summertime. And it was just time to go. Was that a tough decision to make that choice? Because a lot of people are like,

I can't let it go. I mean, you know, I was I was ready to do it about halfway through the season. A couple times I was ready to just go buzz it all. But I kind of hung with it through the end of the year. And, you know, everybody's heard the old, the old Bible story of Samson. So I felt I was having a pretty good year at the time. And I'm definitely a little stitious. I don't know about superstitious.

So I, no, I kept the hair going through the rest of the year. And I had a couple fans actually chirped me asking me for my hair care routine and stuff like that when we were on the road. And so I always thought that was funny. But, you know, that was the first thing I did when I got home. I went and saw my guy who is my barber, is my shortstop from college. And he's been the only one to touch my hair since. So that's the first thing I did when I got back. Well, let's get a little background for people who aren't familiar with you yet.

Once again, Noah Menlinger Cardinals prospect joining us here today. You grew up. I know you grew up in Georgia. Was it in the Atlanta area or was it just Georgia? Yeah, yeah, in the suburbs of Atlanta. Alpharetta. And I went to Alpharetta high school. So yeah, just the suburbs of Atlanta, probably the 45-minute ride into downtown. We grew up going to Braves games at the old park, and now we've been to Truest. And that's a pretty cool, pretty cool spot too.

Brothers, sisters, what was it? What was the family life for you growing up? Yeah, a little brother. We both play sports growing up. We were all about baseball. And so he and I, know, we fought like most, but, you know, we're three years apart. And so, you know, there's, there's always a good brother, brother rivalry there. So, no, but he's, he's a UGA now. He's, he's got all the smarts. He's an engineer there and finishing up school there. So he's, he's doing well for himself. Um, I actually, you brought up your school here. I actually have a photo that I'm going to throw up to you real quick because, uh, utility player now, but I got this that I found when I was looking you up on Twitter a little bit throwing, throwing no nose.

Yeah. How is the old chicken wing these days? Do you think the carols could squeeze a couple of endings out of you if you were needed? Hey, I definitely go for it if they let me, that's for sure. I'm down to play anywhere. But no, I was definitely more of a pitcher, honestly, back in high school. The bat, I always had some decent bat to ball skills, but I couldn't get one out of the yard to save my life. So it definitely took a little bit of the college weight room to get there.

but, you know, I tried to take the Greg Maddox approach and just try and, you know, hit my spots and and make some pitches. And, you know, Pope was a good team that year. So that was, that was a cool, a cool story. That was really fun. I miss pitching. It's, it's different. That really feels like offense, more than more than hitting does in baseball. You know, you're the one that's got all the control holding the ball. So were you somebody that like, because when I played, I didn't like, when I was pitching, I didn't like hitting that day. Like I wanted to focus on, Just the one thing. Were you cool doing the show hey thing and going. Hey, I had an RBI.

I had an RBI that day. So, no, I loved it all. I loved it all. I wanted to be in the lineup that day. That's for sure. If something didn't go right, you know, at least you could pick yourself up. Sure. You'd be like, I'm focused on this.

Don't bother me because I popped out with two men on. Don't worry about. Don't worry about it. That's right. That's right. Once again, we're joined by Noah Menlinger utility prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals. You mentioned growing up in Atlanta that you went to a lot of

Braves games, did you have a favorite? Was it Maddox? Was he your favorite Braves player growing up? I kind of missed out on Maddox a little bit. He kind of finished before I was really tuning in the games regularly. I mean, Chipper was the man growing up. I mean, everybody was wearing the fighting for the number 10 in the league and stuff. But I had some sneaky guys that were my favorite. I liked Martine Prado and Omar and Fontaine. Those were my guys. They kind of move all over the field. And, you know, when you're a kid, you're still playing, you know, every position. And I'd never never understood why guys got settled into one spot. So I enjoyed playing all around the field last year, just like those guys.

And those had always been my favorite guys on the field. Now, you mentioned that, you know, just like you, you play all over the field. If you had to describe your game and like your style and your approach as just an all-round ball player, who would you compare it to at the major league level? Because when when people look at your stats and the fact that you bat left, you throw right, you had the hair, you got rid of that, but you play infield and outfield. A lot of Brennan Donovan comparisons. Do you hear that often?

Yeah, for sure. No, I mean, it's an honor even to be compared to somebody like that. I mean, for him to go out and win a gold glove is rookie year at that new utility spot, that's a guy I look up to, you know, and Donnie's the man. He's, you know, anytime I pass him in the hallway, he's saying what's up. And nothing but good things to say about him. I definitely try to model my game around him. And honestly, we've got Jose Ocendo, the secret weapon, you know, at the complex.

who we work with now. And those are two guys I'd love to model my game after. I mean, I'd love to be able to move around the diamond like those guys. They give teams some flexibility and, you know, to give the manager that flexibility and, you know, to give some other guys flexibility, maybe given an off day here and there. I mean, at the end of the day, I'd like to, you know, do whatever I can and, you know, kind of understand that as a role and potentially a role for the future. So Donnie's definitely a guy that I model my game after.

Now, how did the whole bat left throw right thing come about? Because I never took off from me. People don't understand how difficult switch hitting is. They give people a hard time, well, you can't hit right-handed. It wasn't he just do it with the other? Like, it's not that easy, everybody. So how did you decide on the left-handed was the way that you like to hit? And obviously, throwing right-handed, that's just kind of the way you have to do it on the

infield unless you're played first. You know, I've tried to kind of pinpoint that. I've got that question before. and my best guess is I played hockey before anything. And so my dad, my dad played hockey left-handed, I think, because his older brother was left-handed. So I picked up, he cut down some sticks for me as a kid. And that's kind of what I picked up and started swinging. And when I picked up a baseball bat, it was left.

And dad didn't play baseball as a kid. Mom played a little softball. But, you know, they weren't forcing anything on me. Whatever was happening happened. And we just kind of went from there. He tried to let me make me switch it. and take some reps right-handed, but I just, I couldn't see the ball like that.

I couldn't see it. Moving on to your college career, because when people hear college baseball, if you're not around it, you see Omaha College World Series, and that's just what you think of. You took a different path. You went D2.

Tell us about your college experience and why you chose to go to a place like Georgia College and State University, as opposed to any other schools that might have been available to you. Yeah. I mean, Georgia College, you know, I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. I've got, you know, friends to last a lifetime there.

And certainly, you know, in high school, I wanted to go play in a big D1 school. I wish, you know, Georgia would have given me that opportunity or Georgia Tech or somewhere in state. But at the end of the day, Georgia College gave me a great opportunity to get out there, get on the field early. And we had, there were three guys that got drafted in the 2018 class the year right before I got there. and they were making runs at regionals, and it was good competitive baseball. And, you know, I went in as a catcher, too, which was interesting, you know. So at the end of the day, I was just looking for a spot that, you know,

was going to give me a chance. And, you know, it was two and a half hours from home, and you really couldn't beat that. We're going to talk with Noah a little bit more about his pro career after college, and we'll get into all of that coming up next. And I want his opinion on a little controversy. going on in Major League Baseball with the uniforms. We're going to ask them about that as well.

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Fandall, official sports book partner of the NBA. Once again, we're joined by Cardle's prospect, Noah Menlinger, who was joining us from the complex here today. Reminded that Lockdown has launched the first ever national sports 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube. Lockdown Sports today here for you covering the top sports stories of the day with the local experts of Lockdown, plus. our national shows covering every league. So go to Locked on Sports today on YouTube and subscribe to the first ever national sports

24-7 streaming channel. So Noah, you're done with college. You go undrafted, which can be heartbreaking for a lot of college players. But after all these years, they've dwindled down the amount of rounds and players who get selected. Unfortunately, you don't get drafted. Was there ever a point when you were done with college,

you were like, man, I don't know. I don't know if this is going to be a career path for me anymore. Yeah, really I had I had spent three years at Georgia College and at that point I was kind of ready to go somewhere that may offer me a little bit of a better chance, just a, you know, more of a traditional route. And with COVID, I had two more years of eligibility left. So I was, I was looking to go to a few different schools. And ultimately, I kind of decided on going to Appalachian State. I really got along with the coach, Kermit Smith there. and I was really appreciative of the chance that he gave me. But I was looking at transfer and then got a call to go out to a pre-draft workout for the Cardinals. I hadn't heard from any other team in Major League Baseball.

So, I mean, that was just exciting in and of itself. I was going to get to go hit BP in Bush Stadium. And next thing I know, I'm down in Jupiter. And it was a whirlwind from there. So, you know, I'm so thankful for the opportunity that the Cardinals gave me. but, you know, they told me as the draft was kind of unfolding, they had told me to kind of stay close to the phone. And, you know, I'm sitting there.

And it was kind of a live stream at that point in the later rounds. And I was only looking for one team to come by. And every time that Cardinals name popped up, you know, it was another guy's name, you know, guys that ended up, you know, being some of my voice now. So anyway, it was pretty disappointing. I had kind of, you know, kind of hung my head and was pretty sad about the whole thing. it didn't last long. I ended up getting the call for the free agent deal about 10 minutes after the

draft. So, you know, that's all I wanted to do was play pro ball. And so ultimately, I got that chance and I bid at it. And that work at Bush Stadium, do you put me over the wall? Because we were talking about how, you know, home runs are not, that's not your strength. Okay, you can pop them, but that's not, that's not your thing. Did you put any over the wall to impress anybody that day? I snuck a couple over the wall. I snuck a couple. We weren't getting too many, too many swings at it. I think we had something like 20, 25 cuts, and I know I popped three out. And I was pretty proud of myself. It's crazy, but sometimes the bad speed you get when that adrenaline gets going a little bit. But I'll flex a little bit and say that I hit one that hit just above the bullpen in right

center, and I heard it hit. And man, that was a sweet sound to me. Not an easy place to put the ball out either, especially when we're talking batting practice speed, You're not getting to go off somebody popping 98 in there where you get to use their velocity. So that's good to hear, good to hear. That probably impress some things. Now, when we can move on into your minor league career, your first stop is down in Palm Beach. And then you move on to Peoria in 2022. What did you feel like was the biggest difference between, you know, the type of baseball you were seeing there

compared to what you were seeing during your college years? Sure. You know, VLO. That's the easy answer, right? You know, we didn't have anybody that was throwing anything like this. I mean, I'll give a nod to River Ryan, who's in the Dodgers organization. We faced him four or five times this year with Tulsa. And, I mean, he throws the heck out of the ball.

But aside from him, we really weren't seeing too, too many burners in our conference in school. And so, you know, really the VILA was the hardest thing to adjust to. You know, the eyes get used to it after a certain amount of time. but it's really the, you know, the VLO combined with the breaking stuff. So, you know, you've got to worry about 100, and then they can throw an off-speed pitch. So it's the combination of it, too. You can get on time for 100 if you know what's coming, but you don't know what's coming. So that's definitely the biggest adjustment.

Aside from that, the pace of the game picks up every level you go up. I think the game just feels a little bit faster, and it runs a little bit smoother when it's going well. And when it's not going well, it piles up on you, that's for sure. And just trying to slow the game down is the number one thing that you can do in that situation. And we work on that and all of our fundamentals and just slowing the game down as best we can. Now, you mentioned ball to bat skills because you're known for being a very good contact hitter. Very few strikeouts. Got some stats here because you did a story with front of the show, Daniel Guerrero,

among Cardle's minor leaguers with a minimum of 300 plate appearances, not to get too nerdy, but your walks per strikeouts ratio, 1.27, which, was second behind Nick Dunn, who was at AAA last year, and your weighted runs created plus 130 was fourth highest per fan graphs. And under those same qualifications, you had an 11.1% strikeout rate across 458 plate appearances, which was second best in the cardinal system behind Dunn and 19th best across the minor league. So what is your approach that allows you as a hitter to be able to put the bat on the ball a little more in an era where strikeout are pretty high for those who are watching just the major leagues.

You know, they're seeing guys just, you know, with and left and right. And they're wondering, why is it so difficult where you've been able to figure something out? What's it been for you that makes it a little easier for you to put the ball in play? You know, I think first and foremost, just that overall day. It's a little bit of a mindset. I mean, I hate striking out. That's, to me, that's the worst thing I can do.

You know, you can run a dribbler out. You can break your bat and get a little Texas league. but you know you don't put the ball in play and and you're not you're leaving it up to no chance at all you're you're walking back to the dog out and that's that's just a leaves a salty taste in my mouth I can't stand it and I think it's not accepting that you know that new school baseball mentality I mean surely I know I'm not going to go out there and pop 30 like like you know my teammate Chandler Redmond but you know I I think giving up some of that that that pursuit of power numbers and in

in pursuit of putting balls in play is definitely a, it's a mindset. It's a mentality. But I go up there with ultimately a plan to just try and try and do my job and see some pitches. And I feel I'm doing my best when I can see a couple of pitches, control the strike zone and feel like I'm controlling the about as best I can. For you younger people who are listening and watching, he's absolutely right. When you strike out, you're not giving yourself a chance at anything.

Like at least you put the ball and play, whether you get a hit, but at least you got to make them field the ball. It just get the percentages of you getting on base go up a ton compared to just striking out. So I was that kind of ball player too. So it always made sense. I mean, I was embarrassed when I struck out. Like it was something that I was like, dude, I got to walk away back to the dugout and shame. I don't want to look like that, you know? So that's something obviously that Cardinal fans know a lot about.

And it's something that, you know, when you get to the show, they're going to love you for that. One thing you got to do this year, World Baseball Classic, Team Israel. Tell me a little bit about that experience because that had to like just blow your mind because that thing was cool. No, absolutely. I mean, it was like getting shot up to the big leagues for a week, week and a half. It was such a cool experience. I mean, we got to play against the best competition in the world. I mean, our pool down there, they called it the death pool, I remember.

Yeah, dude. I mean, you know, at the end of the day, you know, you're playing against guys like Ronald Acuna, you want Soto. I mean, these are the best of the best. And I mean, these are guys I'm watching on TV playing them will be the show with. And so, I mean, getting to play against them was a crazy experience in and of itself. And it's been really cool to see what they've done with the WBC and kind of blow that up. It's a different kind of baseball, certainly than the minor leagues and definitely than the major league baseball. It's a playoff atmosphere every game.

And I definitely haven't played an environment that loud. The dome there in Miami can get pretty. pretty loud. And so I just, I enjoyed every minute of that. I mean, we had some, some veteran guys in that clubhouse that had played on the Olympic team and played on the WBC team before that. I mean, our manager, Ian Kinsler, and then we had Brad Ausmus helping us out too. There was so much good baseball minds in, in one place. And to have such a welcoming group of veterans for some of the younger guys like me, Zach Gelloff and, you know, a few other guys that, that were, you know, just trying to make our way. That meant a lot.

to me, you know, for them to welcome us in, go take us out to dinner. That was, that was really cool. And I appreciated that. And, you know, I, we talked today about searching for mentors and in spring training. And I think that's, you know, guys on that team are certainly ones that I would look towards to, to, you know, definitely look up to and, you know, in the future. Being around all of those guys you mentioned, not only on your team, but other guys in the pool, were you able to get any sort of, like, autograph stuff? Or was that, like, kind of frowned to probably like, I don't want to be that guy. Yeah, you don't want to be that guy.

I mean, you're in the field with him at the end of the day. I got a pretty sweet picture that I had posted on Instagram with me and Ronald Ocuna and all my friends from back home that are big Braves fans, really like that one, got a kick out of that one. So, you know, that was plenty for me at the end of the day. I mean, you know, you hope to be there one day, right? And you don't want to treat it too, too much like it's out of reach. But, you know, I valued every minute of that.

And it was such a precious, precious experience for me. I enjoyed it so much. And if I get the chance to do it again, I'll chomp at that bit. Once again, we're talking with Noah Menlinger Cardinals, prospect. And I want to talk about a little bit of your time at Springfield last year because you were around the team when there was some movement going on at the trade deadline. So we'll get into that and then we'll get his thoughts on what's going on with these uniforms.

They're looking goofy. So we'll have more with Noah coming up next on Lockdown Cardinals. You shouldn't have to worry when you buy tickets to your next big event. whatever it is you're trying to get to because game time is the fast and easy way to buy tickets for all of the sports, whether it's Major League Baseball or you're talking about NBA, NHL, going to a blues game, music, comedy, any of the theater events that are coming up near you, you should be able to go onto game time and feel comfortable and ready to be able to get the type of seat you want for the price you want. And that's what game time is all about. Killer last minute deal. So if something changes at the last minute, and you're like, oh my gosh, I can go. I got off work. I can go. I can go. I can go make it. They've got last minute deals for you that will blow your mind. They've got all in prices.

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Last minute ticket, lowest price, guaranteed. Locked on has launched the first ever national sports, 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube. Locked-on Sports today is here for you 24-7, covering the top sports stories of the day with the local experts of locked on. Plus, our national shows covering every league. Go to Locked on Sports today on YouTube and subscribe to the first ever national sports 24-7 streaming channel. Cardinals Prospect, Noah Menlinger, joining us here today. And last year, you start out at Peoria, which, by the way, was a city I lived in. I worked in radio in there for a couple of years. So very familiar with Peoria. But then you get the call up. You move up to double A. You go to Springfield. And it was an odd time for you guys because trade deadline, something that normally doesn't really happen. And the Cardinals organization goes down where they're actually moving on from people and bringing in youth. And you were around for that. What was that like in the clubhouse for you guys and some of the guys around you, not only wondering where or who's going, but welcoming in some new faces?

Yeah, yeah. No, we were keeping up on Twitter. That's for sure. I mean, you know, these days, that's the best place to get your news, it seems like. So we were, we were, you know, updating Twitter when we got back in from batting practice and just trying to see if anything was happening at the deadline. You know, we didn't have anybody from our team leave, but, you know, we had Seguacy come in. We had TK come in.

We had Svanson come in. I think that's it. Forgive me if I forgot somebody. But no, when those guys came in. And we just tried to welcome them as best we could. We knew that'd be a tough situation on them. You try to put yourself in their shoes and, you know, that leaving all your boys and just starting over in a new organization would be tough.

And, you know, fortunately, we were trying to make a little bit of a playoff run at that point, and a little playoff push. And getting the guy that won the Triple Crown in the Texas League was certainly going to help us do that. So, you know, those two guys are great players. and the Cardinals definitely got a lot out of that trade. And so those guys are, I'm sure, doing really well in Big League camp right now. And it'll be good to catch up with both of them when we see them soon. But yeah, no, you just try to welcome them as best you can.

That's really all you can do. And, you know, we were really fortunate to have those guys. Now, you mentioned that you guys were fighting for a playoff spot. you guys end up actually winning the division in the second half there. So a lot of talented players on the team. I'm going to throw out some names at you and you kind of give me just like your quick 10, 15 second scouting report on them. And remember, these are your boys. You're going to see him again, Noah, so don't say anything bad.

Let's start with Victor Scott the second, the blur himself. What can you tell us about Victor in his game? I mean, everybody seems to know a lot about him. I mean, you can't let that guy get on first base. It's pretty fun to hit behind him because he's always in school. boring position. Vic is an unbelievable guy to share the field with. And he helps a lot out when you're making your first couple starts out in the

outfield. I'll bet. I'll bet. Because that was something that maybe people aren't familiar. You played a lot of right field with Springfield, right? Yeah, that's right. And I hadn't done that in my pro career. I've definitely done it in college and summer ball a little bit.

So I was taking balls in the outfield a little bit and BP and told, told LaHare, I was good for it if he needed me. So sharing the outfit with Vic is definitely, definitely a luxury. That's for sure. He covers a lot of ground. Absolutely. You mentioned Cajee bringing in the Texas League MVP. People who are in St. Louis, they've heard about him. We got to meet him a little bit at the winter warm up. What can you tell us about his game, both offensively and defensively? What made him as good as he was as the MVP last year when, in the limited time that you got to see him on your squad? That guy's just a hitter.

He's just a hitter. I mean, he can, you know, wait on a breaking ball with the best of them. He'll jump a fastball with the best of them. He'll pull it for a homer to left field. He'll go backside to right center. That guy's a complete hitter. He can do it all. He's got lighting fast hands, and he's fundamentally sound on defense.

He makes all the plays. He makes all the plays. He's a great ball player. A guy that we've had on the show before. So, Fred of the show, also, a lot of speed. Mike Antico, 18 bombs this year for, for Mike, which surprised a lot of people to go along with the speed. What do you got to say about Mike and his package as a player?

What much of a surprise to us. He had gone off in that first little short season stint we did in Palm Beach in 21. So, you know, the power wasn't much of a surprise to us. But Mike is just a great veteran presence in the clubhouse. He's really a great guy. And it's awesome to have him in the clubhouse. And then, you know, he's a complete hitter. He's a mature hitter.

He's a mature baseball player. He knows the game like the back of his hand. Now let's switch over to the pitcher side of things. One of the top pitching prospects in the Cardinals organization, got a couple of them here. We'll start with Tink-Kents. What can you tell us about Tink and what he offers? Have you ever had to face him in any sort of BP or something at all? Or have you just only seen him taking on the opposition?

I faced him twice last year and he walked me once. And it's a good thing he did because the other time he struck me out. it's a blur. You said Victor Scott's a blur. Tink Hensis fastball is a blur, too. Oh, my goodness, that guy's got electric stuff, and I'm glad he's on our side, that's for sure. Toccoa Roby, one of the guys that was brought over in the trade that we talked about,

you know, coming from Texas. So what does Tocua offer? Because he and Tink are listed as right now as the top two pitching prospects in the organization. Yeah, TK, I mean, he was limited to a number of, like a pitch count, I think, when we first got him in Springfield. So we only saw him for a short, two-inning, maybe three-inning stints in the playoffs. But that guy, he's a competitor,

and you don't really see it until he gets out on the mound. And he's one of the nicest, most easy-going guys until he steps out on that mound. And then you see a little bit of fire from him. And that's awesome. And that fastball's got a little fire to it, too, because he ran it up to 98 in Springfield,

I think it was. And, you know, he could have a little more in him. So that guy, that guy brings the heat. He's got strikeout stuff, too. So, you know, I don't want to fade. I don't want that at bat either, let me tell you. Let's talk about a former first round pick in Michael McGreevy, a guy that has shown a lot of success in the minor leagues,

but some people hear first round pick and they're like, well, why isn't he up here already? What can you tell us about McGreevy's game and what he offers? Mike's always been poised on the mound, polished ever since at college. I think he went to UCSB and the gauchos produced a pretty good one in Shane Bieber before him. So anyway, he's just, like I said, poised on the mound. He knows what he wants to throw. He's going to get the ball back, get right back on the rubber.

And it's awesome to play defense behind because that hitter, you know, with the pitch clock, it speeds you up already. But with McGreevy on the rubber, he's going to speed you up even more. So you better be ready to go the second you step in that box. And he's got really good stuff. He knows exactly where he's going to put it. So if he's on that day, good luck. Good luck.

Yeah. He's one of those guys that you love to get, like he's mentioned defensively. and when they're pounding the zone and it's just like, boom, boom, boom. And it just, the game, the game flies by and it makes it all that much better for you. All right. Final one, Andre Grenio, closer, a guy that I am really, really, really high on this year. And I'm expecting big things out of. And what makes him so nasty coming out of the pen?

Well, I remember talking to him last year and seeing his Instagram, he kind of showed you a little hints at what he was working on over the off season. And he had always had a bang or slider. That thing is wipe out. But he added a little change up too. and the heater gets up to about 100, and I know he's chasing that triple-digit number a little bit, but he's a guy that's got just power strikeout stuff,

and he's definitely a great arm to have in the back end of the bullpen. I know he went on a crazy streak of no runs allowed or something like that in Springfield, where he certainly earned his little call up at the end of the year. So Grinio, I haven't had that at bat yet. I don't want that at bat either. You're listed all our prospects, all our best arms. So these are guys that have.

some really good strikeout stuff. And I know that's something that Cardinal fans definitely were looking for. I keep up on Twitter a little bit. So. All right. Well, if you're keeping up on Twitter, this is going to be something that may, maybe you've seen already today. Maybe you haven't, but there's been a little bit of controversy, you know, about the uniforms

that the guys are sporting at spring training right now. Some people aren't so thrilled with them. Some people are like, nah, whatever. I'll put it on whatever. It's nice and light. But then this came out today because most people have been talking about the jerseys and now the lettering is a little smaller and you know little things that we can all whine about it's fine but this is something that i'm curious to get your feedback on what do you think

about this when you're wearing your home whites and your tucked in jersey is actually see through the pants how does that how does that make you feel seeing that with that you might be wearing something like that this year are you nervous i'm not nervous but you know what it gets hot and it gets hot in Springfield. It gets hot in Missouri in July and August. So, you know, if they're, if they're making strides to make the uniforms higher performance, you know, I'll tip my cap to them, but I don't think anybody wants to be seeing our undergarments. I think they've seen, you know, Boll Durham, you know, once or twice. And, you know, they know we're a little superstitious. So, you know, I certainly have a couple holes in my pairs of sliders that I'll

throw on. And, you know, I don't necessarily think I want everybody seeing that. But, yeah, It was something that I thought about too. I was like the sliding pads from back in the day. Like you put those on. Some people don't wear them at all and just wear like the jock strap. And like I have a feeling. And you mentioned how hot it's going to be. Like you start sweating through that.

Is it going to be even that much more see through? Like I'm just, I'm just curious how it's going to look. Here's a picture of Shohei in his Dodgers uniform. And you can see it just right there. And it's like, what is going on here? So I don't know.

I just wanted your take on. that as a player, if that's something you end up having to wear. I don't know if they're going to fix these things or not. We're not trying to bash anybody. We're just curious. We're just asking questions here. Hey, I mean, it's, you know, I don't, I don't want my baseball card to turn into a wet t-shirt contest, but I'm sure they'll get it right by the season. I think that, you know, they're doing the, they're doing the right things trying to make it perform better. I'm ultimately, I'm a, you know, a function over form guy myself. So, you know, if it works, it works. But, you know, I'd at least not like my undergarments exposed.

Yeah, yeah. And I think most of us would agree that we'll wear whatever they want us to wear if we get to the show. We're fine with them. That's right. Just give me the number and let me go. So Noah, I appreciate you making time to join us here today. We would love to have you back on the show at some point and keep up with you of what's going on in Springfield. Perhaps you get the call up to Memphis at some point and whatever goes on through camp.

So is there anywhere? You mentioned Instagram is that what's your handle there so people can follow you? Just my name. I think there's an underscore in there between the first and last, but just my name. I kind of just stick to Instagram. I don't even post very much on there. So you're not getting too much from me, but, you know, I'm on it.

He's on it. And you can find him starting at Springfield this year. And who knows what the future will hold for Noah again, Brennan Donovan comparisons. He's got a lot of similarities. And we know how much Cardinal fans appreciate what Donnie brings to the table. And I think you guys are going to like what Noah. does as well. So make sure you guys give them a follow there on Instagram and be sure to check them out.

If you're going to be in the Springfield area or somewhere that Springfield's playing, go on by and see the boys play. Again, thank you guys for making Locked on Cardinals, your first list on every day. If you haven't already, please give us a follow on Twitter at L.O. underscore Cardinals and at JD Sports Radio. Be sure to like and subscribe on YouTube and help our channel and love for the Cardinals grow. You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason. We'll see you next time on Locked on Cardinals. Thank you, Noah. Thank you.