MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Cade Crossland

The Cardinal Chronicle
Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Cade Crossland
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Cade Crossland entered a game that could have gotten away from Palm Beach in a hurry.

He made sure it did not.

Crossland is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Pitcher of the Day after throwing 4.1 hitless innings in Palm Beach’s 16-6 win over the Bradenton Marauders on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals were in trouble early.

Bradenton jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, and Cooper Hjerpe’s rehab start ended after just two outs. Palm Beach needed someone from the bullpen to stop the damage, settle the game down and give the offense a chance to get back into it.

Crossland did exactly that.

The left-hander came out of the bullpen and gave Palm Beach 4.1 hitless innings. No hits. No further damage. No letting the game drift into a runaway.

That changed everything.

Palm Beach’s offense answered with a huge night, led by Brayden Smith’s two home runs and five RBIs. But that comeback does not happen without Crossland giving the Cardinals time to breathe. When a club falls behind by five runs in the first inning, the next pitcher has to make sure the hole does not get deeper.

Crossland held the line.

That is the value of long relief.

It is not always glamorous. It does not always come with the clean headline of a starter working deep into a game. But when a reliever comes in early, absorbs innings and shuts down the other side, he can flip the entire night.

Crossland did that Tuesday.

Bradenton had the early momentum. Crossland took it away. Palm Beach’s bats then took over, turning a 5-0 deficit into a 16-6 win.

That is a team response, but Crossland’s outing was the bridge.

Blake Aita deserves strong mention after giving Peoria 5.2 innings of one-run baseball in a 2-1 extra-inning loss at Beloit. Jurrangelo Cijntje also deserves mention after allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts over six innings for Springfield. Bruce Zimmermann gave Memphis five innings of one-run ball, and Hancel Rincón added two scoreless innings in the Redbirds’ extra-inning win.

But Crossland had the outing that changed the game.

4.1 hitless innings.

A five-run deficit stabilized.

A comeback made possible.

That earns the honor.

Old School Take

A bullpen can lose a game early.

It can also save one.

Cade Crossland saved Palm Beach’s night Tuesday.

The Cardinals were down 5-0 in the first inning and needed someone to stop the bleeding. Crossland gave them 4.1 hitless innings and gave the offense time to go to work.

That is not just relief work.

That is changing the direction of a ballgame.

That is why Cade Crossland is The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Pitcher of the Day.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Cade Crossland, Palm Beach Cardinals |  MLB