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.
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.
Caglianone swaps jerseys with old friend at Spring Breakout
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Royals top prospect and MLB’s No. 22 prospect Jac Caglianone stepped to the plate in the seventh inning Friday night, he saw the D-backs' outfielders take a step back. Well, maybe a few steps back. Arizona pitcher Philip Abner, watching from the dugout, thought that was
Cards' young fireballer draws ... Kershaw comps?

JUPITER, Fla. -- Dating back to the first time Cardinals roving instructor Ryan Ludwick saw left-hander Quinn Mathews flash his fiery competitiveness and overpowering stuff in a 2024 live batting practice session, one very favorable comparison kept coming to mind. Clayton Kershaw -- a career 212-game winner, two-time World Series
De Vries, Salas show why they're top prospects at Spring Breakout
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It's been precisely one year since the Padres traded for Dylan Cease. Nearly two months later, they landed Luis Arraez. At the ensuing Trade Deadline, they made two major moves to bolster their bullpen. Naturally, those deals depleted the upper levels of their farm system. Still, the