The Cardinals have released 30-year old righty reliever Blaine Boyer. Boyer pitched in 7 games (all starts) in A+AAA-ball for the Cardinals this year and he was 1-3 with a 10.12 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. He has pitched in 18 games (7 starts) overall in the minors this year and he is 1-3 with a 10.90 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP. This is absolutely no loss for the Cardinals moving forward.

22-year old righty reliever/starter Jordan Swagerty came into this season as the Cardinals’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. He was a 2nd round pick of the Cardinals in the 2010 Amateur Draft. Swagerty is looking good so far in his professional career. He has pitched in 27 games (12 starts) in A-ball so far this year and he is 5-3 with 5 saves, a 1.71 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He has only given up 60 hits in his first 84 1/3 innings this year while only walking 18 batters and whiffing 82. Those are impressive enough numbers for the Cardinals to put him on the fast track to the show.

24-year old righty swinging outfielder Alex Castellanos is having a solid year in the minors for the St. Louis Cardinals. Castellanos has played in 76 games in AA-ball for the Cardinals so far this year and he is 88 for 284 (.310 avg, .902 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 16 homers, 47 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He has now played in 367 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 367 for 1,314 (.279 avg, .813 OPS) with 218 runs scored, 42 homers, 176 RBIs and 68 stolen bases. Castellanos could get promoted to AAA soon if he keeps raking like he is right now.

22-year old lefty swinging 1B Matt Adams is flat out destroying the baseball in AA this year. Adams has played in 53 games so far in AA-ball this year and he is 77 for 213 (.362 avg, 1.091 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 17 homers and 52 RBIs. He has also only whiffed 39 times which is impressive considering the other numbers he’s putting up. Adams has now played in 237 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 307 for 922 (.333 avg, .952 OPS) with 143 runs scored, 49 homers, 192 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Adams could be a big part of the future in St. Louis (if Albert Pujols leaves after this year) or one of the best trade chips they have to offer.

22-year old lefty swinging 3B Zack Cox came into this season as the Cardinals’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why so far this year. Cox has just been promoted to AA. He has played in 53 games in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 64 for 204 (.314 avg, .788 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Cox has now played in 57 games in his first two years in the minors and he is 70 for 219 (.320 avg, .799 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers, 26 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Cardinals are probably going to put Cox on the fast track to St. Louis.