***Official 2020 STL Cardinals Thread***

[BigRedChief]

I read Goold said in his chat that Liberatore and Gorman could be here in 2021. Gorman starting 3B. Is this just more front office pumping out propaganda to a friendly “journalist”? Or are they progressing a year ahead of schedule?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I read Goold said in his chat that Liberatore and Gorman could be here in 2021. Gorman starting 3B. Is this just more front office pumping out propaganda to a friendly “journalist”? Or are they progressing a year ahead of schedule?

If you think watching Dylan Carlson adjust to advance major league pitching is painful, wait until you see the kid who CLEARLY struggled with the step from A to A+ try to do it after taking a year off.

Nolan Gorman would get eviscerated at this level. I mean just abused. Dude would bat .200 w/ 215 strikeouts and 15 homeruns he hit in blowouts off mopup relievers.

I honestly think he's at least 2 more years away and potentially 3 after losing this season of development. Maybe they're seeing something in these camps that's changed, but based on anything we've seen thus far, he's a mistake hitter with massive holes in his swing (with solid pitch recognition but against really raw arms).

Liberatore, OTOH, I could see starting games for us at some point next season. He'd also have to explode through the system but w/ the leverage he can get on his pitches and the life he has on his fastball, he's the kind of guy that can move quickly if his mechanics lock in and his body matures. If he's suddenly working at 96 and has developed enough consistency to really stay on top of his breaking pitches, he could rocket through the system and w/ an injury or two, end up making that jump from AA to the majors that you'll see with some really polished prospects.