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The Cardinal Chronicle The Trainer’s Table: Waiting on Naughton St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals are still awaiting clarity on left-hander Packy Naughton following his abrupt exit from Wednesday’s outing with Triple-A Memphis.As of Thursday afternoon, April 9, there has been no official roster move and no confirmed diagnosis from the organization. Naughton remains listed on the Memphis Redbirds’ active roster, a sign that the club is still in the evaluation phase.That’s not unusual.In situations like this, the Cardinals typically wait for MRI results and additional medical opinions before making anything formal. Until those results come in, everything remains in a holding pattern.Where Things Stand • Status: Active roster (Memphis) • Injury: Left arm (details not yet confirmed) • Action: Under evaluation — imaging pending • Expected Move: Likely 7-day IL if injury confirmedIf the early concern proves valid, the next step would likely be placement on the 7-day Minor League Injured List, with the possibility of a longer-term designation depending on the results.The bigger picture is this injury carries a little more weight than your typical early-season injury note.Naughton isn’t just another arm trying to find innings — he’s a pitcher who has already walked a hard road back. Multiple elbow procedures, including Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repairs, have already cost him significant time over the past two seasons.That history matters, because when a pitcher with that kind of medical file grabs his arm mid-outing… you don’t assume minor.What makes this one injury hard to take, is the timing, because before Wednesday night, Naughton had quietly put himself back on the radar:• Spring ERA: 1.50 • Six strong appearances • Trending toward a possible MLB call-upHe had done the work. Put himself back in position. Earned another look.And now — after just three pitches everything pauses.What Comes Next The next 24–48 hours will tell the story.Expect one of three outcomes:- 7-day IL placement (most likely, pending imaging) - Extended IL / Full-season IL if structural damage is confirmed = A rare best-case scenario where the injury proves less severeUntil then, the Cardinals will wait — and so will everyone else.Because in this game, especially with pitchers, you don’t rush the truth.You hate writing these article, not because injuries are part of the game — they always have been — but because you know what it takes for a man to climb back after surgery… and how quickly it can be taken away again.Naughton had earned his way back into the conversation.Now we wait to see if he has to start that climb all over again.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future

Waiting on Packy Naughton

The Cardinal Chronicle Jurrangelo Cijntje Takes the Mound Tonight as Hype Meets Opportunity St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThere are prospects you watch because of the ranking, and then there are prospects you watch because they make you stop what you’re doing and lean in a little closer. Jurrangelo Cijntje is becoming the second kind.When Springfield sends him to the mound tonight against Tulsa, the Cardinals will be handing the ball to one of the fastest-rising young arms in the system. Baseball America’s April 6 Hot Sheet ranked Cijntje as the No. 1 hottest pitching prospect in the minor leagues and No. 6 overall on its weekly list, after a dominant first outing in the Cardinals organization. In that organizational debut on April 3, he worked 5.2 scoreless innings, allowed just one hit, and struck out seven. Springfield’s listed probable starters confirm he is set to start Thursday night, April 9, against Tulsa at Hammons Field.That is the kind of debut that gets attention in a hurry, but this story is bigger than one good night. Cijntje came to St. Louis in the February 2 trade that sent Brendan Donovan to Seattle, and he arrived with real prospect weight already attached to his name. MLB.com reported at the time of the deal that he was the Mariners’ No. 7 prospect, while Baseball America’s 2026 organizational rankings also slotted him seventh in Seattle’s system. Since joining the Cardinals, he has climbed into the upper tier of St. Louis’ farm rankings as well, with MLB Pipeline placing him No. 5 in the Cardinals’ Top 30 entering the season.What makes Cijntje fascinating is not just the novelty attached to his background as a switch-pitcher. It is the growing sense that the Cardinals may have simplified something that did not need to be complicated. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report says his ceiling is highest as a right-handed starter, noting that he is the better strike-thrower from that side, with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s and a sharper path to missing bats. Pipeline also reported that St. Louis plans to have him focus on pitching right-handed in games to begin his Cardinals career, rather than continuing the fuller ambidextrous experiment he carried in Seattle’s system.That matters, because the raw stuff is not in question. The question has always been role, usage, and development path. The arm talent is loud. The right-handed version of Cijntje looks like a starter with real upside. The left-handed version may still have value, but evaluators have been pretty clear that the cleaner major league future is on the right side. That may not be as flashy as the switch-pitch label, but old-school baseball has always had a simple principle: don’t turn a strength into a sideshow. Let the man do what he does best.Tonight’s start is not just another line in a Double-A box score. It is a chance to see whether the first impression was the beginning of a trend. Springfield is still in the opening stretch of the season, so nobody with good sense is fitting him for a red jacket in Cooperstown just yet. But when a 22-year-old arm with premium stuff, a fresh organizational reset, and national prospect buzz gets the ball, it is worth paying attention.For the Cardinals, that is the real story here. They did not just acquire an interesting arm. They may have acquired a pitcher whose future becomes clearer the more they strip away the gimmick and let the talent speak for itself.And tonight, the talent gets another chance to speak. The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cijntje Takes the Mound Tonight as Hype Meets Opportunity

The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Player of the Day St. Louis, MO By Ray Mileur&nbsp; Leo Bernal Reaches a New Level Some moments don’t decide a game—but they still matter.Memphis catcher Leo Bernal delivered one of those moments Wednesday night, connecting for his first career Triple-A home run in the Redbirds’ 7-3 loss to Charlotte. It came late, a solo shot in the ninth inning, long after the outcome had been decided. But for a young player continuing to climb the organizational ladder, the timing doesn’t diminish the significance.Bernal entered the season as one of the Cardinals’ top prospects, known more for his defensive polish and steady development behind the plate than for headline-grabbing power. That’s part of what made this moment stand out. It wasn’t just another swing—it was a marker, a sign of growth at the game’s highest minor league level.There’s a difference between production and progression. Box scores tell you what happened. Moments like this hint at what could be coming.The Redbirds didn’t have much go right offensively on Wednesday, and Bernal’s home run accounted for one of the few sparks. In a lineup filled with experience and emerging talent, it was the young catcher who provided the highlight.It’s early in the season, and no one swing defines a player. But development rarely announces itself with fanfare. More often, it shows up quietly—in a late-inning at-bat, in a well-timed swing, in a small step forward that builds toward something larger.For Bernal, Wednesday night was one of those steps.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future

Bernal Fights Back in a 7-3 Loss with His First AAA HR

The Cardinal Chronicle St. Louis Cardinals Morning Briefing St. Louis, MO — By Ray MileurThe Cardinals are headed home.After splitting a six-game road trip through Detroit and Washington at 3–3, St. Louis returns to Busch Stadium with something they didn’t consistently have a year ago — early signs they know how to win tight ballgames.Thursday offers a needed pause. Then comes a six-game homestand beginning Friday night against the Boston Red Sox, followed by a three-game set with the Cleveland Guardians.And if the early returns mean anything — and they just might — this club is showing a different kind of edge.&nbsp; Winning the Close Ones It’s April, and no one’s handing out anything meaningful yet. But you can learn a lot about a club by how it handles pressure.So far, the Cardinals have answered that test.They’re 3–0 in extra-inning games — their best such start since 1955 — and remain unbeaten in one-run games at 3–0. Add in a 2–1 mark in two-run contests, and you begin to see a pattern: this team is comfortable in the late innings.That’s not luck. That’s execution.&nbsp; Walker Setting the Tone If you’re looking for the engine behind the offense, you don’t have to look far.Jordan Walker is driving it.The young outfielder closed the road trip with a home run in three consecutive games, giving him five on the season — tied for the National League lead. Over his last five games, he’s gone deep four times and continues to show a level of authority at the plate that can’t be ignored.Dig a little deeper, and the numbers back it up.Among Major League hitters with at least 40 plate appearances, Walker owns the highest average exit velocity in baseball at 97.5 MPH. That’s not just hard contact — that’s elite company. His hardest-hit ball this season, a 115.9 MPH shot, ranks among the top-20 across the league.In simple terms: when Walker squares it up, it stays hit.&nbsp; Support Around Him Walker isn’t doing it alone.Alec Burleson continues to provide steady production, turning in a three-hit, three-RBI performance in Wednesday’s win. He’s not flashy, but he’s been reliable — and right now, that matters.JJ Wetherholt continues to impress in the early stages of his career, reaching base in each of his first 11 starts. That kind of consistency, even in a small sample, doesn’t go unnoticed.And up and down the lineup, the Cardinals are finding ways to contribute — not always loudly, but effectively.&nbsp; A Needed Step Forward on the Mound On the pitching side, there was a quiet but important development.Michael McGreevy delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits without issuing a walk. Even more telling — he retired the final 11 batters he faced, finishing his outing with control and confidence.It was the kind of start the Cardinals needed during the trip — efficient, composed, and giving the bullpen room to breathe.And the bullpen responded.After a leadoff walk in the seventh, the Cardinals’ relievers allowed just one baserunner the rest of the way, retiring 20 of the final 21 hitters in the game. That’s how you close out a road trip.&nbsp; Looking Ahead Now comes the next test.The Red Sox arrive at Busch Stadium on Friday night to open the homestand, with Dustin May set to take the ball against his former club. It’s a fresh start at home — and an opportunity to build on what’s been established.Because while it’s still early — and yes, the sample size is small — this much is fair to say:The Cardinals are playing better than expected.Not perfectly. Not completely. But better.And in a long season, that’s how something real begins.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.&nbsp;

The New & Improved St. Louis Cardinals are Flying Home

The Cardinal Chronicle Morning Farm Report St. Louis, MO By Ray Mileur&nbsp; A Night of Lessons Across the System It was one of those nights across the Cardinals’ minor league system where the box scores don’t all line up in your favor—but the story underneath still matters.Three of the four affiliates took losses on Wednesday, but each level offered a different look at where players—and the system as a whole—stand early in the 2026 season.&nbsp; Memphis Redbirds (AAA) The Redbirds saw their four-game road winning streak come to an end in a 7-3 loss to Charlotte, but the final score tells only part of the story.Memphis jumped out early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a double from César Prieto and an RBI single from Joshua Báez. But the game turned decisively in the third inning, when Charlotte put up seven runs in a frame that got away from starter Quinn Mathews.To their credit, the Redbirds didn’t fold. The bullpen—Tink Hence, Chris Roycroft, Ian Bedell, and Scott Blewett—combined for 6.1 scoreless innings, stabilizing the game and keeping things from spiraling further.There was also a milestone worth noting, as catcher Leo Bernal connected for his first Triple-A home run in the ninth inning. It won’t grab headlines today, but moments like that tend to matter down the road.Memphis now sits at 9-2 on the season.&nbsp; Springfield Cardinals (AA) Springfield’s undefeated start came to an end with a 10-4 loss to Tulsa, snapping a four-game winning streak.Top prospect Liam Doyle made his season debut and ran into early trouble, allowing six runs over three innings. Tulsa applied steady pressure, scoring in each of the first six innings and never allowing Springfield to settle in.Even so, the Cardinals showed some fight, briefly cutting the deficit to 5-4 before the game slipped away.Roster movement also continues to shape the club. Right-hander Randel Clemente was activated, while left-hander Pete Hansen was sent to Palm Beach on a rehab assignment.Springfield now stands at 4-1.&nbsp; Peoria Chiefs (High-A) Peoria followed up a strong showing Tuesday with a tough 13-1 loss to South Bend.The Chiefs managed just two hits on the night, both from Tai Peete, who also drove in the club’s only run. After showing patience and drawing seven walks the night before, the offense went quiet, failing to record a single free pass.South Bend starter Brooke Caple controlled the game from the outset, striking out seven over five innings, while the Cubs’ lineup did its damage in multiple big innings.Peoria drops to 2-3 on the young season.&nbsp; Palm Beach Cardinals (Low-A) Palm Beach continues to set the early tone, improving to 3-1 with a 4-3 extra-inning win over Bradenton.The Cardinals showed resilience, answering after the Marauders erased a late deficit in the eighth inning. Palm Beach pushed across the go-ahead run in the tenth and closed the door from there.It wasn’t a perfect night—Bradenton outhit Palm Beach—but it was an effective one. The Cardinals executed when it mattered most, a trait that tends to carry weight over a long season.The club also welcomed a new addition, as Brayden Smith—acquired from Baltimore—was quickly assigned to Palm Beach, a move that suggests a defined development plan already in place.&nbsp; The Takeaway If there’s a common thread from Wednesday night, it’s this: one inning can change everything.Memphis learned it. Springfield ran into it. Peoria felt it. Palm Beach overcame it.That’s early-season baseball in a nutshell. The results matter, but the response matters more.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future&nbsp;

A Night of Lessons Across the System

The Cardinal Chronicle A Wealth of Riches Behind the Plate St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThere are organizations searching for catching. And then there are the St. Louis Cardinals, quietly sitting on a surplus.At Triple-A Memphis, two names are beginning to define that reality — Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks — a pairing that, depending on how you look at it, represents either a luxury… or a future decision waiting to be made.Both are sharing time behind the plate. Both are on the radar. But they are not the same story.Crooks is the now.Bernal is the next.Jimmy Crooks has already knocked on the big-league door. He made his debut late in 2025, and while the results at the plate didn’t carry over in that short stint, the organization didn’t blink. They sent him back to Memphis, and he’s done exactly what you want a depth catcher to do — respond.Early returns in 2026 have been loud. A 4-for-4 night. Power showing up. Confidence at the plate. This is a player who understands his role — stay ready, stay productive, and force the conversation if the opportunity comes.Right now, he’s the first phone call if something happens in St. Louis.Then there’s Leonardo Bernal.Younger. More raw. More ceiling.And maybe the most complete defensive catcher in the system.A Minor League Gold Glove winner in 2025, Bernal’s reputation is built on what he does behind the plate — receiving, framing, controlling the game. The bat is still developing, but there’s reason to believe it’s coming. He’s a switch-hitter, and that alone gives him a different kind of value long-term.The Cardinals aren’t rushing him. They’re letting him breathe at Triple-A, letting him learn, letting him fail a little, and adjust.That’s how you build a catcher.That’s how you build a career.Right now, Bernal is sharing time with Crooks, and in a lot of organizations, that would create tension. Here, it creates depth.And depth at catcher is something you don’t take for granted.At the major league level, Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés hold the job. Behind them, Crooks is ready. Behind him, Bernal is coming.That’s not just organizational strength — that’s insulation.The kind of insulation that protects you over a 162-game season.The kind that allows patience.The kind that turns a position of concern into one of quiet confidence.There’s no rush to separate Bernal from Crooks today. There doesn’t need to be.Because for now, the Cardinals are in a good place.Two catchers. Two timelines. One position that suddenly feels secure.And in this game, that’s about as valuable as it gets.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

A Wealth of Riches Behind the Plate - Bernal & Crooks

The Cardinal Chronicle 

The Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.