Cardinals' Diaz Rebuilt His Standing — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

JUPITER, Fla.—On the first day Aledmys Diaz had a chance to stake his claim to a starting job with the big league club, the Cuban shortstop went 4-for-4.

A few weeks later, as a nod to such success, he was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

Few players in the organization have rewritten their place on the depth chart more significantly than the 25-year-old Diaz.

Less than a year after being removed from the 40-man roster, he has emerged as a priority prospect for the Cardinals, one whom they want to feature at Memphis so that he’s ready for a prominent role at some point in 2016 or by 2017.

“Talk about what we saw a year ago compared to what we witness this spring, (and) it’s radically improved,” big league manager Mike Matheny said. “I’m just excited for him and the prospect of what he can be if he continues to improve.

“He needs to play to get better at some of the things he needs, and he’s real close. What we saw is a kid who has shown he has the range and has a good arm. There are some things he can clean up.”

An opening for Diaz emerged during spring when Jhonny Peralta split a ligament in his left thumb and required surgery that will cost him about three months. The Cardinals initially turned to Diaz and Jedd Gyorko to fill the hole at shortstop, but opted instead to sign veteran Ruben Tejada, whom the Mets released in mid-March in a cost-cutting move.

Tejada’s arrival signaled Diaz’s departure from camp.

As they did with Kolten Wong and others in past years, the Cardinals sent Diaz, who signed a four-year, big league deal in March 2014, where he could get playing time. They are convinced Diaz has the bat speed to handle the majors. It’s the game speed that they want to improve.

REDBIRD CHIRPS

• The Cardinals optioned lefthander Marco Gonzales to Triple-A. He will lead Memphis’ rotation, but if he stays down for 20 days, it means he also will have exhausted his three minor league option years.

• While serving the 40 remaining games on his suspension for using marijuana, Alex Reyes has wowed on the back fields. The righthander has touched 100 mph and asserted the Cardinals’ notion that he’ll contribute to the majors at some point in 2016.