Thomas Saggese

Saggese will make his first career start in left field Thursday against Houston in Grapefruit League action, and a center field start is also expected soon during spring training.

Fantasy Impact

He will leave Cardinals camp to represent Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Lars Nootbaar appears headed for the injured list to open the season with heel issues. St. Louis sought a right-handed-hitting outfielder but signed infielder Ramon Urias instead, influenced by the spring performances of Saggese and Jose Fermin in the outfield.

Saggese has hit .250/.292/.336 with a 28 percent strikeout rate over his first 100 major-league games. Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday the organization could deploy him in the outfield this season.

Fantasy Impact

The positional experiment would mark new territory for Saggese, who has played exclusively infield positions throughout his professional career. St. Louis is seeking right-handed-hitting outfield options, and Saggese's .288/.358/.485 slash line in the minors suggests offensive upside that could translate with more consistent playing time. The move would expand his paths to at-bats on a roster light on righties in the outfield.

The Cardinals recalled Thomas Saggese from Memphis.

Fantasy Impact

Saggese returns to the majors one day after he was optioned. He takes the roster spot of Nolan Gorman who was placed on the injured list.

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned Thomas Saggese to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact

Saggese has struggled in July, recording just four hits and eight strikeouts over 24 at-bats. No corresponding move has been announced.

The Cardinals recalled Thomas Saggese from Triple-A.

Fantasy Impact

Saggese takes the roster spot of Ivan Herrera who was placed on the injured list.