Ryan Weingartner Named Cardinal Chronicle MiLB Player of the Week

The Cardinal Chronicle
Ryan Weingartner Named Cardinal Chronicle MiLB Player of the Week
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

There are weeks when a player forces his way into the conversation, and then there are weeks when he ends the conversation altogether.

Ryan Weingartner did the latter.

The Palm Beach infielder has been named The Cardinal Chronicle MiLB Player of the Week for games played Tuesday, May 12, through Sunday, May 17, after putting together one of the most complete offensive weeks in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system.

Weingartner did not win the honor because of one swing, one box score, or one loud afternoon. He earned it by stacking quality at-bats, reaching base, driving in runs, running the bases, and impacting games in several different ways.

That is the kind of week that gets noticed.

His closing argument came over the weekend, when he was at the center of Palm Beach’s offense on back-to-back days. On Saturday, Weingartner went 2-for-2 with a triple, a double, two RBIs, three runs scored, a walk, and his 12th stolen base of the season. That is not just a good line. That is a ballplayer filling up the scorebook in every column that matters.

Then he came right back Sunday and did even more damage, belting a three-run homer, drawing three walks, and driving in four runs.

Back-to-back days. Back-to-back impact performances. Back-to-back reminders that production still matters more than prospect noise.

Weingartner’s week stood out because it had balance. He showed extra-base pop, plate discipline, run production, base-running value, and the ability to keep pressure on opposing pitchers. In the lower minors, that kind of all-around contribution can be just as meaningful as raw power or a hot batting average.

For Palm Beach, Weingartner has been more than a name buried in a box score. He has been a steady offensive presence, and this past week he looked like a player gaining confidence at the right time.

There were other strong candidates across the system. Nelson Velázquez continued to provide veteran power at Memphis. Rainiel Rodriguez remains one of the organization’s loudest young bats. Joshua Báez continues to push his way into the bigger-picture prospect discussion. Yordalin Peña also deserves mention for his production.

But this week belonged to Weingartner.

For a player who affected the game with his bat, his legs, and his approach, Ryan Weingartner is The Cardinal Chronicle MiLB Player of the Week.

Honorable Mentions: Nelson Velázquez, Rainiel Rodriguez, Joshua Báez, Yordalin Peña.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.