On the heels of releasing our Prospects on Deck Alumni post, which we listed all of the players that we have highlighted over the years who have made their dreams a reality of making it to the show, we now look at Cardinals Minor Leaguer Chandler Redmond.
Redmond was drafted by the Red Birds in the 2019 June Amateur draft as their 965th pick in the 32nd round. People might think long shot, but remember, Hall of Famer Mike Piazza was selected in the 62nd round (1390th Pick overall) in the 1988 June Amateur draft.
In 2015, Redmond was a standout High School baseball player at Georgetown (Md.) Prep where he received many accolades, such as being selected to play in the 2015 Brooks Robinson All-Star Game at Camden Yards and was Rated as Top Third Basemen in Maryland for Class of 2015 by Perfect Game. That was just a few of the many awards bestowed on this rising star.
The Middletown, MD native attended Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and in four years he batted .267, with 174 hits, 116 runs scored, 33 doubles, two triples, 50 home runs and 153 RBIs through 199 games. His best year was in 2019 where he batted .309, with 42 runs, 11 doubles, 18 home runs, 59 RBIs and 33 walks.
The summer he as drafted to play pro ball, the Cardinals sent him to the Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie League) and in 54 games, he batted .287 with 37 runs, 52 hits, 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 25 walks, spanning 181 at bats.
In the 2019 Appalachian League postseason, he batted .316 (6 for 19), a double, three home runs and six RBIs, while helping his team win the organizations 10th overall championship.
After the Covid-19 lost season of 2020, Redmond started the 2021 minor league season with the Class A+ Peoria Chiefs and in 64 games, he batted .234, with 33 runs, 52 hits, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 34 RBI’s and 35 walks through 222 at bats.
On August 10, 2021, he received a promotion to the Double A Springfield Cardinals and turned it up a notch. Through 32 games he hit .303, with 13 runs scored, 37 hits, nine double, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 11 walks.
Now in 2022 and through 73 games (as of August 10th) with the Springfield Cardinals, Redmond already has 17 home runs and 61 RBIs with 34 games remaining in the regular season. But entering Wednesdays game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles, he had 13 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Prior to the game, Redmond had not gotten a hit in August after having his best month of the season in July where he batted .283 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
But last night, history unfolded as Redmond hit for a Home Run Cycle, finishing 5 for 6, with four runs scored, four bombs and 11 RBIs.
In his first at bat, he singled home a run to put the Cardinals up 3-0, then in his next at bat he struck out. In the top of the fifth, Redmond hit a two-run opposite field shot over the left field wall to extend the lead to 6-3. With the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, he unloaded and launched a grand slam over the center field fence as the Cardinals then led 11-4. Not done yet, Redmond came up in the top of the seventh and hit the first pitch he saw over the center field fence for a solo shot. Then to top off his historic night, Redmond took a 1-1 pitch and hit a fly ball to right center, clearing the wall for a three run bomb to complete his cycle.
“It’s unbelievable.” “I don’t even know what words to use to describe the feelings right now,” Redmond told MLB.com
Wow! Just an enormous feat for a young prospect as he becomes only the second player in the minor league history to ever hit for a home run cycle. The other player to achieve such a feat, was Tyron Horne, also a Cardinals Minor leaguer who completed his epic night on July 27, 1998 in Double A.
The Cardinals have a special ball player in Chandler Redmond and as he continues to tear it up in the minors, it will be interesting to see when the Cardinals will decide he is ready to make a splash in the big leagues.
Good luck to Chandler Redmond the rest of the season and we at Legends on Deck are excited to follow your journey to the show.
Video and Player Photo Courtesy of MilB.com
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