St. Louis Cardinals prospect Dylan Carlson will not be promoted this September, according to a recent report. This may explain the possible reason why.
That classic St. Louis Cardinal uniform has been draped over some of the most dominant hitters of any era. Cardinals players have long been clad in red and white for ages- the centerpiece of the jersey being twin bats and birds, interwoven and symmetrical.
The shimmering, polished red helmet or the vivid, cardinal red hats that so embody the team, the city, and its history.
This is the legacy that is entailed with being a member of the Cardinals, or at least how the organization views it. A prospect promotion will not be done for “the hell of it,” rather being part of a calculated and precise process that takes time.
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The way they view it, any prospect, once promoted will remain up permanently- at least according to their plan.
They are not interested in a test run, thus they would rather Dylan Carlson get his regular playing time to close out the AAA season, in hopes that he will be primed to be a regular contributor in 2020. Marcel Ozuna is a main cog in the Cards lineup and is also a pending free-agent. Thus a slot is essentially ready and waiting for the switch-hitting outfield prospect.
Carlson has shown a great propensity for power in the minor leagues, as well as the all-important ability to reach base driving a high OPS in the past season. He has shown an impeccable ability to improve year after year, evolving into a well-rounded athlete.
The fact remains that he could be an overwhelmingly beneficial presence in the lineup and off of the bench for a team competing in the postseason. However, the Cardinals have made a proactive decision in favor of the player’s development and their future together rather than the present.
However, this may clearly be about years of control and the maximization of arbitration years on Carlson. Only Fernando Tatis Jr. and Pete Alonso were promoted this year in the face of manipulative team control tactics.
Whatever the specificities of this case may be, it is important to understand that Dylan Carlson is a big part of the future in St. Louis. Whether that future arrives in September or in 2020 is ultimately not of much importance to the Cardinals’ brass.