27-year old lefty reliever Barret Browning is off to a solid start in AAA-ball for the Cardinals in 2012. Browning has pitched in 14 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 2-2 with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Browning has now pitched in 291 games (11 starts) in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 29-26 with 16 saves, a 4.14 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Browning could get his first shot at the show in 2012 if he continues to pitch well in AAA.

30-year old righty starting pitcher Adam Wainwright missed the entire 2011 season due to Tommy John Surgery. So it would make sense that he would be a little rusty. His first three starts of the 2012 season were pretty awful, but he has looked like his old self in his last three starts. In Wainwright’s last three starts, He is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has pitched in 6 games (all starts) overall this year and he is 2-3 with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Wainwright has given up 36 hits (7 homers) in his first 33 2/3 innings, but he has limited the damage by whiffing 34 batters and walking only 7. I look for Wainwright to continue his steak of good starts for a while.

23-year old lefty swinging 3B Zack Cox came into this season as the Cardinals’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. Cox is off to a slow start in AAA-ball for the Cardinals so far this year. Cox has played in 26 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 18 for 87 (.207 avg, .622 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has played in 165 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 182 of 618 (.294 avg, .776 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 15 homers, 73 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. With David Freese and Allen Craig ahead of Cox on the depth chart at 3B, the Cardinals can give him the time needed to develop before calling him up to the show.

27-year old lefty swinging CF Jon Jay is ripping the ball for the Cardinals this year. He has played in 19 games for the Cardinals so far this year and he is 29 for 70 (.414 avg, .996 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers, 8 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Jay has now played in 283 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 250 for 812 (.308 avg, .792 OPS) with 115 runs scored, 16 homers, 72 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Jay is going to have to keep up the good work, because the outfield just got a little more crowed with Allen Craig’s return from the D.L.

The Cardinals have activated 27-year old OF/3B/1B Allen Craig off the D.L. He played in 75 games for the Cardinals last year and he was 63 for 200 (.315 avg, .917 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 11 homers, 40 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Craig’s versatility and bat will be welcomed back with open arms by the Cardinals. To make room on the roster for Craig, the Cardinals designated 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Erik Komatsu for assignment. Komatsu played in 15 games for the Cardinals this year and he was 4 for 19 (.211 avg, .496 OPS) with 3 runs scored. If Komatsu clears waivers, the Cardinals will have to offer him back to the Nationals as they picked him in the Rule 5 Draft last winter.