Future Redbirds

Per Jim Masilak of Commericial Appeal: 

Lefthander Troy Cate has been added to the Redbirds’ rotation and will make his second start of the season tonight against the Cubs. Cate, who pitched five shutout innings while making a spot start in the second game of a doubleheader April 15 at Oklahoma, replaces Matt Ginter in the five-man rotation.

Cate, who attended the birth of his daughter in Calgary earlier this week, has an 0.68 ERA in seven appearances. He has pitched 12 straight scoreless innings. Ginter allowed 13 hits and five runs in 41/3 innings in his most recent start Tuesday vs. Omaha. The 29-year-old went 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA in three starts.

Good. (And congrats to Troy!) If Randy Keisler could find his way up to St. Louis to make 3 starts, it’s plausible that the more talented Cate could earn a spot start or two as well. Cate has a 3.7 K/BB ratio in 427 minor league innings, albeit many were logged out of the bullpen.  As many of you may remember, Cate was very effective as a starter in the Mexican Winter League and this move could be permanent. If so, it may prove to be a harder task for him to make the Show but I suppose with Carpenter hurt maybe it’s not so hard. Kelvin Jimenez was called up today with Keisler’s demotion,  so either Carpenter will start soon, Franklin or Thompson will move to the rotation or they’ll just go with a 4 man rotation for now. Bears watching.