Player of the Week: Ryan Weingartner Powers His Way Into the Spotlight
The Cardinal Chronicle
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Player of the Week: Ryan Weingartner Powers His Way Into the Spotlight
Ryan Weingartner did not just have a good week.
He had the kind of week that demands attention.
The Low-A second baseman put together one of the loudest offensive stretches in the Cardinals’ full-season minor league system, and for that, Weingartner has been named The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week.
Weingartner appeared in five games and delivered across the board, going 9-for-23 with eight runs scored, one double, five home runs, 14 RBI, one walk, seven strikeouts, and one stolen base. His weekly slash line checked in at .391, with a massive 1.504 OPS.
That is serious production.
The power is the headline, and it should be. Five home runs in five games is not something you brush past. That is impact damage. That is changing games. That is putting pressure on opposing pitchers every time his spot in the order comes around.
Weingartner did more than just hit the ball over the fence. He drove in 14 runs, scored eight more, and gave Palm Beach a constant source of offense during the week. When a player produces that many runs in that short of a stretch, he is not just contributing. He is carrying an offense.
That is what made this week stand out.
For a second baseman, this kind of power production is especially intriguing. Middle infielders who can impact the baseball with authority are always worth watching, and Weingartner’s bat made a loud statement. The Cardinals’ system has been looking for players who can separate themselves, and weeks like this help a player do exactly that.
There is still development ahead. The seven strikeouts show there are areas to tighten, and that is part of the process. No minor league player is a finished product. But the tradeoff this week was obvious: when Weingartner connected, he did real damage.
And baseball still rewards damage.
The Cardinals have placed a heavy emphasis on turning tools into production, and Weingartner’s week was a strong example of that coming together. He showed power, run production, athleticism, and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Five games.
Five home runs.
Fourteen RBI.
That is not just a hot streak. That is a player making sure his name gets written down.
Ryan Weingartner is The Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Week.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Ryan Weingartner, St. Louis Cardinals | Philidephia Enquirer