When Thomas Saggese went to the Arizona Fall League with a sample of the big leagues under his belt, the Cardinals prospect looked at the “finishing school†as a chance to continue developing his approach as a hitter.
To get there, the 22-year-old utility infielder with the tendency to swing at pitches early in counts had an idea of where to begin.
“One of the things is to try to chase less, and I was able to do that,†Saggese said recently at Busch Stadium during the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up event. “I was able to experiment on different ways of how I’m going to do that, and I was able to be successful there and be a little bit more patient ... and just looking for pitches that I could really handle.â€
Saggese’s emphasis on approach led him to bat .391 with a .524 on-base percentage and a .594 slugging percentage in 18 games in the fall league. He walked 16 times and struck out in 82 of his plate appearances.
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The fall success bookended a 2024 for Saggese that included 125 games in Class AAA in which he batted .253 with 20 home runs and a .752 on-base plus slugging percentage as well as 18 games in the majors in which he collected 10 hits in his first 52 big league at-bats after being called up in September. The latter of the two provided Saggese with a framework for his offseason.
“Maybe not from the physical standpoint but just more of what I’m looking for,’†Saggese said. “What I’m trying to accomplish and what I kind of need to do in terms of preparation and how I think about things a little differently.â€
He described the adjustments to cut down on chasing pitches as one that required him to put an emphasis on being more selective, which he noted as not having done before. He said he shifted his approach to one in which he shrank his strike zone and waited for pitchers to deliver a pitcher he could “do damage with.â€
Having ascended through the minors with his aggressive approach, Saggese described the changes as a “balancing act†that will require additional preparation depending on the types of pitches he’s facing and what part of the field he is looking to hit to.
Saggese’s winter work to refine the mechanics of his swing aims to help him get in a “good position to hit†to maximize his more patient approach.
“That takes care of a lot of things,†he said. “If I’m in a good position to hit, then I’m going to do more damage, which when I do more damage, then I’m going to probably walk a little bit more. It’s just kind of a cyclical nature in a good way. Just trying to be as prepared as I can.â€
Saggese, whose primary position is shortstop but has experience elsewhere on the infield, said he has not focused on one specific position to work on this winter. He has spent more time fielding ground balls on concrete than on a baseball field — a process Saggese credits to a former coach. The work on concrete at Saggese’s offseason facility in California emphasizes quicker movements as the ball tends to move faster while also spotlighting reactions and reads for hops.
“I try to do my (infield work) and let it translate,†Saggese explained.
However, his focus could shift if the Cardinals and Nolan Arenado find a trade partner for the veteran third baseman.
This offseason, the Cardinals have sought to cut salary and find opportunities for young players including Saggese, Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan. An Arenado deal would pave the way for additional third base opportunities for the likes of Gorman and, in turn, allow Donovan to get consistent time at second base and for Saggese to fill a utility role.
Arenado has a full no-trade clause in his contract, and earlier this winter, he rejected a deal that would have sent him to the Houston Astros. The Boston Red Sox are seen as a fit by the Cardinals and Arenado, but the movement has been slowed as free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman continues to field interest from clubs including Boston.
“I don’t really think about it much,†Saggese said of the Arenado trade possibilities. “I try to pay a little attention to it, just because if they were to trade him, then maybe I get more time at third base. So then that kind of affects how I have to prepare. But other than that, I try not to think about it too much.â€
Instead, Saggese clarified he has sought to focus on what he can control as a way to prepare for his second big league spring training, one in which he will seek to make his first opening day roster as one of the young, rising Cardinals who could solidify his role amid an organizational “reset.â€
“It’s a positive thing for me because I’m one of those guys,†Saggese said when asked about the Cardinals’ youth movement. “I’m definitely trying to come in and provide, perform and really produce and show people that I’m capable and help the team as much as much as I can. I think it’s a positive thing. I like hearing that.â€
