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Hoping to Forget 2025 Struggles, César Prieto Returns to Cardinals Bigger, Better
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- Hoping to Forget 2025 Struggles, César Prieto Returns to Cardinals Bigger, Better
(Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
ST. LOUIS – Physically bigger and clearly more powerful atthe plate this season, Cardinals' infielder César Prieto wanted to be ready to prove himself whenand if another shot at the big leagues came along.
Now, on the heels of his strong start to the Triple-Aseason in Memphis – one that has included six homers, seven doubles and a triplein 28 games – Prieto is about to get another shot to prove that he can playat the big-league level.
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Prieto, 26, was recalled on Monday after Thomas Saggese wasoptioned out with the plan of him getting regular playing time and more consistentat bats with Triple-A Memphis.
The Cuban-born Prieto made his MLB debut in 20205 andplayed in three big-league games with the Cardinals over two MLB stints. He went1 of 6 with five strikeouts at the big-league level.
Those numbers stuck with him over the winter as he wasworking to add muscle and become a more explosive hitter in 2026.
"That (experience) is going to help because I know what Iam going to face now," Prieto said via Cardinals' bullpen catcher andtranslator Kleininger Teran. "I know it was only six at bats, but I have abetter idea now and I have good preparation for what is coming."
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This season at Triple-A Memphis, Prieto has slashed.311/.357/.566/.923 while hitting six homers and driving in 14 runs. He hasadded seven doubles and a triple in 26 games.
"I really worked during the offseason trying to getstronger and thanks to God I am hitting with that power now," the 5-foot-9,195-pound Prieto said.
Cardinals' manager Oliver Marmol liked what he heard aboutthe shortstop/third baseman so far this season while playing for Memphis and managerBen Johnson.
"The reports have been really good and his offensivenumbers speak for themselves," Marmol said of Prieto. "Defensively, he's beenmore locked in and making it more important in his daily routine. Then, beingable to play all the different positions and feeling comfortable at them – that'sthe feedback that we've gotten."
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Primarily a third and second baseman in the past, Prietohas played in 18 games at shortstop this season. He appeared in five games atthird base and one at DH for Memphis. He has four errors on the season – twocoming while at shortstop and two at third base. Anticipating a potential needfor shortstop depth, the Cardinals had the infielder make a position switchthis season to be ready for a promotion.
"That (playing shortstop)is something I can do, and I can even play second base, too," said Prieto, whogot a call from Johnson at 6:30 a.m. on Monday morning informing him that hewas headed back to the big leagues. "I've been working at it and I've figuredout ways to do it."
Cards hope Saggese improves with reps
As for Saggese, the Cardinals are hopeful that the 24-year-oldinfielder/outfielder will get more reps in Memphis and find his rhythmoffensively. With the growth of Nathan Church in left field and Jose Fermin asthe team's top utility option, playing time opportunities had dried up forSaggese at the big-league level.
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"I couldn't envision him playing more than twice a week onany given week, and when you look at what (Saggese) is trying to work on interms of pitch recognition and controlling the strike zone, the hardest thingis to do that off the benchor playing three days down and one day on," Marmolsaid. "So, him going down (to Triple-A) and being able to play five to sixtimes a week (will be good for him.) Then, when we need to make a move, he'llbe ready for it. And it just made sense with his age, skill set and ceiling.For him to be here and playing twice a week, that didn't make a lot of sense."
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