The Cardinal Caravan is Coming [Audio]

It’s one of the first signs of spring. The Cardinal Caravan is coming to town Saturday.
Players expected to appear are...

Matt Adams. He figures to be the everyday first baseman in ‘14.  Adams hit .284 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI’s in 108 games. He generated those numbers over 319 plate appearances.  An everyday ballplayer gets around 600 plate appearances per season. You can do the math from there…

Shane Robinson. He figures into a crowded and complicated outfield picture for the ’14 Cardinals.  Robinson appeared in 99 games last season. He hit .250 with two homers and supplied solid defense.

Also on the trip are two pitching prospects….
Eric Fornataro was a sixth round draft choice in 2006. He appeared in 37 games at Memphis.  He struck out 39 and walked 23 in 59 innings.

Zach Petrick was 7-3 overall last summer as he advanced from Peoria to Palm Beach to Springfield. His ERA was an impressive 1.99.  Petrick struck out 122 hitters while walking only 23 through 113 and 1/3 innings.

Hitting coach John Mabry is also scheduled to make the trip along with former Cardinal pitcher Cal Eldred.

Doors open at Hannibal's Quality Inn and Suites on US 36 West at 10 a.m. The free program begins at noon. Tom Ackerman of the Cardinal Baseball Network and KMOX is the emcee.

KHMO’s Bill Shuler visited with Ackerman earlier this week: