Redbirds cleanup hitter finds home in right field
Fast-rising Piscotty used to man third base
During his time at Stanford University, Stephen Piscotty made a name for himself as an All-America third baseman with good range and a cannon for an arm.
But these days, he sees third base from a different perspective.
Piscotty was the 36th overall pick in the first round of the major league draft in 2012, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals as a future outfielder.
Now after less than two full years in the minors, he’s on the verge of cracking the big leagues, playing right field for the Memphis Redbirds — and there’s nothing he loves better than the chance to nail a runner attempting to score from Redbirds right fielder Stephen Piscotty gets a single in the seventh inning of a 6-2 loss to the Oklahoma City RedHawks at AutoZone Park on Saturday night.
third.
“Don’t tell any of our pitchers this. But when there’s a guy on third with less than two outs, I’m locked in, ready to throw someone out,” said Piscotty, who was rated “Best Outfield Arm” in the St. Louis Cardinals system after his first pro season in 2012. “I love right field. I love being able to throw runners out. But I’ve had to learn to pick my spots because you don’t want to be too aggressive in the wrong situation and let runners advance.”
Major mistakes have been few and far between for Piscotty during his rapid rise to Triple-A.
He breezed through Class A ball in less than a year and finished 2013, his first full season as a pro, with Double-A Springfield. Then after batting . 371 with three triples and seven stolen bases in the Arizona Fall League, he entered spring training in February with what many believed was an outside chance to make the Cardinals’ roster.
He batted .342 in Grapefruit League play during the spring and might have made the big leagues if the Cards weren’t already blessed with a loaded outfield. Now that crowded situation in St. Louis is benefiting the Redbirds.
Piscotty, who opened the season with a sevengame hitting streak, entered Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Oklahoma City RedHawks at AutoZone Park batting . 321 with a homer and nine RBIs — and he’s looked every bit as comfortable at the plate as he has manning his new position in right field.
“I’m hitting him in the four hole,” Redbirds man- ager Ron “Pop” Warner said. “So I got him before the season and said, ‘It’s just another spot in the lineup.’ I told him he didn’t have to try to hit home runs. Most guys, you put them in that spot and they get a little lift going and start trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark. But he understood from the start it’s just another spot in the lineup.”
Though many consider Redbirds left fielder Oscar Taveras to be the top minor league prospect in the Cardinals’s organization, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny made it clear during his visit to AutoZone Park on March 29 that Piscotty could certainly earn a major league call-up if outfield help is needed and his performance with the Redbirds has been the best. Matheny also praised Piscotty for his patience at the plate during spring, and many have speculated that the 23-year-old’s fast rise through the system could give the Cards some flexibility if a trade is necessary later this season.
But Piscotty, ever laidback, doesn’t trouble himself with those kinds of details.
“Every level I’ve been at, I’ve had a good time playing in the Cardinals organization,” he said. “I’m embracing the minor league experience and just having a lot of fun. I know my time will come.”