Thomas Saggese

Thomas Saggese
Saggese with the Cardinals in 2024
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 25
Infielder
Born: (2002-04-10) April 10, 2002
Carlsbad, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2024, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.250
Home runs3
Runs batted in29
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Thomas Darren Saggese (/səˈdʒeɪsiː/ sə-JAY-see;[1] born April 10, 2002) is an American professional baseball infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

Saggese attended Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California. As a junior in 2019, he hit .422 with 10 home runs over 102 at-bats.[2] He batted .440 with three home runs over seven games in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Professional career

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers selected Saggese in the fifth round with the 145th overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] He signed with the club for $800,000, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Pepperdine University.[6]

Saggese made his professional debut in 2021 with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low-A East, batting .256 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and 11 stolen bases over 73 games.[7] He opened the 2022 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the High-A South Atlantic League, where he was named the Rangers' Minor League Player of the Month for July.[8] He was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League for the season's final week and playoffs.[9] Over 103 games between the two teams, he slashed .312/.361/.506 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, 25 doubles, and 12 stolen bases.[10] Saggese received the Texas Rangers 2022 True Ranger Award, and was named to the South Atlantic League postseason All-Star Team.[11][12] He returned to Frisco to open the 2023 season.[13]

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 30, 2023, the Rangers traded Saggese, John King, and Tekoah Roby to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton.[14] He was assigned to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League before being promoted to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A International League in early September.[15] Over 139 games played, Saggese slashed .306/.374/.530 with 26 home runs, 111 RBI, and 34 doubles.[16] After the season, he won the 2023 Texas League Most Valuable Player Award.[17]

Saggese spent a majority of the 2024 season with Memphis, hitting .253 with twenty home runs and 67 RBI over 125 games.[18] On September 10, 2024, Saggese was selected to the 40-man roster, promoted, and made his MLB debut against the Cincinnati Reds in replacement of Brendan Donovan, who was out due to a foot injury.[19] In 18 appearances for the Cardinals during his rookie campaign, Saggese batted .204/.250/.306 with one home run and four RBI.

Saggese was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2025 season.[20] He played in 42 games for Memphis and hit .317 with five home runs. The Cardinals promoted Saggese to the major leagues on April 2 when Nolan Gorman went on the injured list.[21] Saggese appeared in 82 games for the Cardinals during the season, appearing at third base, second base, and shortstop, and hit .258 with two home runs and 25 RBI.[22]

International career

Saggese played for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.[23]

References

  1. ^ "Cardinals select INF Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis," St. Louis Cardinals press release, Tuesday 10 September 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  2. ^ Weaver, Levi. "'I've flown under the radar': Explaining Rangers' surprising Day 2 draft picks". The Athletic.
  3. ^ Maffei, John (June 10, 2020). "North County players Thomas Saggese, Braden Olthoff rising in MLB Draft". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  4. ^ "Rangers pick four in Day 2 of MLB Draft". June 12, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Coast News Group". June 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Rangers ink Roby, Saggese; all 5 picks signed". MLB.com.
  7. ^ "30 Young Minor League Hitters Looking to Build on 2021 Success". March 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Rangers announce Minor League Award winners for July". MLB.com.
  9. ^ RotoWire (September 12, 2022). "Rangers' Thomas Saggese: Climbs to Double-A". CBSSports.com.
  10. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  11. ^ Bigley, Zach (October 3, 2022). "Former Riders sweep 2022 Rangers MiLB awards". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. ^ Resnick, Jacob (November 9, 2022). "High-A award winners and All-Stars". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Callis, Jim (April 4, 2023). "Where Rangers top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  14. ^ Anderson, R.J. (July 30, 2023). "Jordan Montgomery trade grades: Rangers earn 'A' for another big move as Cardinals acquire prospects". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Promoted to Triple-A". CBS Sports. September 8, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Glaser, Kyle (September 27, 2023). "2023 Baseball America Minor League All-Star Teams". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Trezza, Joe. "The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  18. ^ Bigley, Zach (September 11, 2025). "Former RoughRider Thomas Saggese makes MLB debut". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  19. ^ Perry, Dayn (September 10, 2024). "Cardinals promote top prospect Thomas Saggese to majors for MLB debut". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  20. ^ Giff, JC (March 16, 2025). "Cardinals Option Thomas Saggese and Others to Triple-A". Yardbarker. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  21. ^ Schaeffer, Brenden (April 4, 2025). "Cardinals recall Saggese as Gorman heads to IL". firstalert4.com. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Thomas Saggese Stats & Scouting Report". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. November 13, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  23. ^ "Every MLB team's participants in 2026 World Baseball Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
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