St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Report: Lance Lynn Is Pitching in Games Again

• Jose Martinez (RF): 0-3
• David Washington (DH): 1-2, R, BB
  
• Carson Kelly (C): 2-2, BB
  
• Patrick Wisdom (3B): 0-2, RBI, 2 K
• Harrison Bader (CF): 0-3, K
• Mike Mayers (SP): 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Due to trades, promotions and injuries the Redbirds roster has been picked pretty clean. Carson Kelly has probably positioned himself for a September call-up, however. He's keeping his head above water as a 21 year old in the Pacific Coast League right now, and given the state of the backup catcher position he may be in line for a permanent call up in late 2017.

Class A Advanced: Palm Beach 4 - Charlotte 2

• Oscar Mercado (CF): 0-3, K
  
• Juan Herrera (SS): 0-3, BB, K
• Casey Grayson (1B): 1-3, R, BB
  
• Dylan Tice (2B): 2-4, R
  
• Steve Bean (C): 1-4, 2 K
• Lance Lynn (SP): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• Daniel Bard (RP): .1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K
• Junior Fernandez (RP): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Lance Lynn was making his 2016 debut. The big righthander was a supplemental round pick in 2008, and looks like he has the build to eat innings. He has a four seamer that could top out at plus-plus, and uses a cutter and sinker that both profile as above-average big league pitches to keep hitters off of his fastball. Right now his slider and change are fringey at best. As good as the variety pack of fastballs are he may need to develop an offspeed offering or some kind of breaking pitch if he wants to stick as a starter...Fellow 1st rounder Dan Bard has also struggled to develop a usable breaking pitch, and it looks like his best path to the majors may be to ride his sinker/slider arsenal to a late inning role...Junior Fernandez is only 19, but has struggled in his second brief stint in the Florida State League. It was nice to see him bounce back after he failed to escape the first inning or record a strikeout in his last appearance...Dylan Tice has hit very well at 4 levels since he was drafted in the 36th round last year. Much of his production has been due to his sky high BABIP, and there hasn't been a ton of power. But he's a switch-hitter, with some defensive versatility who has shown a mature approach and good bat to ball skills, which ain't too shabby for a 36th rounder. And the Cardinals have had some success with that profile as well.