Former RoughRider Thomas Saggese makes MLB debut
FRISCO, Texas (September 11th, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders infielder Thomas Saggese made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, September 10th in their game against the Cincinnati Reds from Busch Stadium. Saggese went 0-for-4 against the Reds, starting at shortstop defensively in the Cardinals' 3-0 loss.
FRISCO, Texas (September 11th, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders infielder Thomas Saggese made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, September 10th in their game against the Cincinnati Reds from Busch Stadium.
Saggese went 0-for-4 against the Reds, starting at shortstop defensively in the Cardinals' 3-0 loss.
Traded to the Cardinals at the 2023 trade deadline along with John King and Tekoah Roby in exchange for Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton, Saggese was called up from Triple-A Memphis to make his debut. With the Red Birds, Saggese was hitting .253/.313/.438/.751 over 125 games with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs. Since July 1st (55G), he hit .290/.351/.524/.875 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs.
Originally debuting with the RoughRiders in the final week of 2022 and winning Texas League Player of the Week before helping the Riders to the 2022 Texas League Championship, Saggese dominated the Texas League in 2023. Between Frisco and Springfield, he won Texas League MVP, batting .318/.385/.551/.936 with 25 home runs and 107 RBIs.
The Carlsbad, California native was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft by the Rangers, meaning Saggese becomes the third of the five players selected by Texas to debut (along with Justin Foscue and Evan Carter).
Saggese is the 13th former RoughRiders player to make his MLB debut in 2024 and the 210th player in franchise history, joining Wyatt Langford, Justin Slaten, Justin Foscue, Davis Wendzel, Cole Winn, Ricky Vanasco, Jack Leiter, Gerson Garabito, Tyler Phillips, Daniel Robert, Brady Fiegl and Sandro Fabian.
The RoughRiders continue a six-game road series against the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11th. The Riders are expected to turn to RHP Winston Santos (4-3, 5.27) against LHP Lyle Lin (3-5, 4.36) for the Sod Poodles.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 190 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].