Kendall, Villarroel, Saladin, Lin, and Showalter Honored with Post-Season Awards
Sept. 19, 2024 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) announced on September 18th the league awards and All-Star teams for the three leagues that make up the Single-A classification. The Florida State League awards and All-Star team featured four Palm Beach Cardinals as well as manager Gary Kendall being named Manager
Sept. 19, 2024 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) announced on September 18th the league awards and All-Star teams for the three leagues that make up the Single-A classification.
The Florida State League awards and All-Star team featured four Palm Beach Cardinals as well as manager Gary Kendall being named Manager of the Year. The list features utility player Miguel Villarroel, and pitchers Chen-Wei Lin (SP), Darlin Saladin (SP), and Zack Showalter (RP).
Gary Kendall was named the 2024 Florida State League Manager of the Year. Kendall, who started his role with the Cardinals in 2022, has advanced to the postseason all three seasons as field manager for the Palm Beach Cardinals. He also led the Beachbirds to a league and franchise-best 83-47 record this season. This marks Kendall’s first Manager of the Year award in his 20-year career as a minor league manager.
Miguel Villarroel started off the season with the Palm Beach Cardinals, earning Florida State League Player of the Month in May Cardinals before being called up to the Peoria Chiefs (A+). During his time with Palm Beach, the 22-year-old hit .333/.372/.427 with 1 homerun and 35 RBIs. Villarroel was acquired during the Triple-A Phase of the Rule 5 Draft from the Texas Rangers in December of 2023.
Chen-Wei Lin, the first Cardinals player to sign out of Taiwan, played 22 games with 10 wins, an ERA of 2.79, 123 strikeouts, and an AVG of .204. Lin also secured two awards in the Florida State League, one being Pitcher of the Week for the first week of August and Pitcher of the Month in August. Chen-Wei is currently a No. 16 prospect in the Cardinals organization.
Darlin Saladin also started the season off with the Palm Beach Cardinals before being called up to the Peoria Chiefs (A+) in June. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Saladin was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in 2019. Saladin played 11 games with four wins and no losses, had an ERA of 1.95, 62 strikeouts, and an AVG of .207. Darlin Saladin is currently a No. 21 prospect in the Cardinals organization.
Zack Showalter, a Florida native, was named an All-Star relief pitcher. Showalter played 24 games with one professional win. He ends the season with a 2.62 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and an AVG of .203. Showalter was acquired through a trade with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023. Showalter is currently ranked a No. 17 prospect in the Cardinals organization.
The Palm Beach Cardinals are the reigning Florida State League Champions, ending their series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers 2-1. The 2025 season opener Is set for April 4th, 2025 against the Jupiter Hammerheads.