Saggese went 3-for-4 with a steal, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Marlins.
Saggese notched a base hit in each of his first three at-bats, though the exit velocity did not top 80 mph on any of his knocks. He's been making good contact in August with a .300 batting average in 15 games and figures to see extended playing time in the short term with Brendan Donovan (groin) on the injured list while Nolan Gorman mans third base in the absence of Nolan Arenado (shoulder).
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Picking up ninth straight start
Rotowire
Saggese will start at second base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Brendan Donovan (groin) landing on the injured list after sitting out each of the Cardinals' previous three contests, Saggese looks to have some short-term security in St. Louis' everyday lineup. Saggese will draw a ninth straight start Monday, after he went 9-for-30 (.300 average) with two RBI, three runs and one stolen base over the previous eight contests. However, Saggese has posted a .409 BABIP and a 0:8 BB:K during that eight-game stretch, so his overall production could look less appealing once his good fortune on balls in play inevitably takes a turn for the worse.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Bumped into starting nine
Rotowire
Saggese will bat seventh and play second base Friday against the Yankees, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Saggese was thrust into the starting nine late Friday afternoon after Brendan Donovan was scratched with a foot injury. Saggese will look to extend his six-game hit streak.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Making third straight start
Rotowire
Saggese will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Saggese will stick in the lineup for the third consecutive game after going 3-for-8 with a double and a run scored in the first two contests. He'll fill in at the keystone for Brendan Donovan (groin) for the second straight day, but assuming Donovan doesn't require a stint on the injured list, Saggese will likely move back into a utility infield role in the near future.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Will work out in outfield
Rotowire
Saggese will go through pregame workouts and possibly see game action in the outfield, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Saggese has never played the outfield in pro ball, but increasing his versatility would give him another path to playing time, particularly with the Cardinals being left-handed heavy in the outfield. The 23-year-old has not yet found his swing at the big-league level, slashing just .241/.256/.342 in 26 contests. It seems likelier that Saggese's test drive in the outfield ultimately comes at Triple-A Memphis, once Ivan Herrera (hamstring) and Jordan Walker (appendix) return from the 10-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Filling bench role Wednesday
Rotowire
Saggese is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
Nolan Arenado (shoulder) will return to the starting nine Wednesday after sitting out each of the last three contests, ending Saggese's brief run as the Cardinals' third baseman. While starting in each of the three games Arenado missed, Saggese went 3-for-11 with a double, two RBI and a run. The 23-year-old will likely see limited playing time moving forward as a utility infielder.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Expected to operate in reserve role
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated Friday that Saggese will be used mostly in a reserve role, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Saggese was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday to take the roster spot of the injured Ivan Herrera (hamstring) and was immediately thrown into the lineup at designated hitter. However, Marmol noted that playing time priority will be given to "the guys that have been here, more so than the guy who's getting here." Saggese could see fairly regular reps versus lefties, but Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson are expected to be the primary beneficiaries during Herrera's absence.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Saggese to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Saggese has slashed .341/.364/.512 in 14 games this season at the major-league level, but his playing time has dipped since Masyn Winn returned from the injured list last week. Jose Barrero is grabbing Saggese's roster spot while the latter returns to Memphis where he can play every day.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Expected to return to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals are expected to option Saggese to Triple-A Memphis prior to Monday's game against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
In a corresponding move, St. Louis intends to call up Jose Barrero, who will provide the bench with more versatility due to his ability to play center field in addition to multiple infield spots. Saggese had gone 0-for-6 with a pair of walks while manning second base in both of the Cardinals' last two games, but playing time had been elusive before that for the 23-year-old, who hadn't started in any of the preceding four contests. He'll get a chance to play on an everyday basis in Memphis and should rank near the top of the list for a call-up the next time the Cardinals require an extra infielder.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Rips two doubles against NYM
Rotowire
Saggese went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Mets.
Saggese was responsible for two of the Cardinals' three hits Saturday, both of which resulted in doubles in the second and fifth innings. It was Saggese's fourth multi-hit game of the year, two of which have come over his last three games. He's started the season slashing .433/.419/.633 with four runs scored, one home run and five RBI across 31 plate appearances, and he's making a case for regular playing time even once Masyn Winn (back) returns from the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Starting Monday
Rotowire
Saggese will start at third base and bat sixth against the Pirates on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Saggese wasn't initially in the Cardinals' starting nine, but he's a late addition due to Nolan Arenado being scratched due to an illness and general soreness. Saggese went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one home run and four RBI across the Cardinals' doubleheader against the Red Sox on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Drills first home run
Rotowire
Saggese combined to go 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Sunday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.
In his first MLB appearance of 2025, Saggese went 1-for-3 with a run in Game 1 before being subbed out in favor of Brendan Donovan. Saggese didn't start Game 2 of the doubleheader but entered in the sixth frame. He knocked an RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh inning before belting a three-run shot in the ninth, but it wasn't enough to compete with Boston's 18 runs. Saggese will likely receive utility usage while Nolan Gorman (hamstring) is on the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Beginning season at Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cardinals optioned Saggese on Sunday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Saggese reached the big leagues last September but struggled in his limited action with the Cardinals, slashing .204/.250/.306 over 52 plate appearances. The 22-year-old will get some more development time at Triple-A to begin the upcoming season, but he'll likely rank near the top of the list for a call-up if St. Louis requires an extra infielder at any point.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Uphill battle to make roster
Rotowire
Saggese "looks like the odd man out" in a bid for an Opening Day roster spot, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
The trickle down effect of the Cardinals' inability to trade Nolan Arenado extends to Saggese, as the club simply has too many other infielders in line for significant playing time. There's still a good chance Saggese winds up spending a large chunk of the 2025 season in St. Louis, but to start the year he appears headed for Triple-A Memphis.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Receiving promotion to big leagues
Rotowire
The Cardinals will call up Saggese from Triple-A Memphis prior to Tuesday's game against the Reds, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
St. Louis has yet to announce corresponding transaction, but Brendan Donovan (foot) has been banged up lately and may require a stint on the injured list. Saggese had a so-so first three months with Memphis this season but has slashed .291/.351/.524 with 12 home runs over 55 games since the start of July. The 22-year-old has mostly played shortstop this season but could get regular run at second base if Donovan needs to miss some time.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Slow start at Triple-A
Rotowire
Saggese is slashing .243/.325/.397 with five home runs and four steals in 36 games for Triple-A Memphis.
He is now slashing .232/.309/.381 with six home runs and five steals in 49 career games at Triple-A, dating back to last year, which is subpar for a player whose bat is going to have to carry the day. Saggese has played 27 games at shortstop, five games at second base and five games at third base. It's worth noting that Saggese is the sixth-youngest qualified hitter at Triple-A, and the five who are younger are Jackson Holliday, Junior Caminero, James Wood, Owen Caissie and Jonatan Clase, so patience is probably warranted in dynasty leagues.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Sent to St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals acquired Saggese, right-hander Tekoah Roby and left-hander John King from the Rangers on Sunday in exchange for left-hander Jordan Montgomery and right-hander Chris Stratton, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Of the three minor-league players heading back to St. Louis, Saggese projects to have the most long-term real-life and fantasy value. The 21-year-old has dabbled at shortstop, second base and third base during his time at Double-A Frisco this season, but he'll probably be a better fit defensively at one of the latter two positions once he reaches the big leagues. Saggese lacks any standout tools but has been a well above league-average hitter at each stop in the minors since being selected by Texas in the fifth round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft. Over 417 plate appearances with Frisco this season, Saggese slashed .320/.385/.522 with an 8.5 percent walk rate, a 22.5 percent strikeout rate, 15 home runs and eight steals (in 10 attempts).
