Matheny on CF prospect Sierra: ‘He’s an electric player’ – STLtoday.com

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Magneuris Sierra, the only teenager ever to win the Cardinals organizations player of the year award, has always had speed as his tailwind in the minors. Now hes adding strength and seasoning.

The 20-year-old center fielder turned a rocket liner off the right-field wall Monday into a start leading off Tuesday, and then added three singles in the game against the Atlanta Braves. In the ninth inning, he dropped a bunt and outran the throw to invite, momentarily, a rally in what ended as a 2-0 loss.

Sierra also tracked down a fly ball in deep center field for what manager Mike Matheny referred to as one of the finer defensive plays of spring.

A whippy hitter who used his speed to win a batting title, Sierra has added strength through maturity and some charge to his bat with a more direct swing. The double Monday and first two singles Tuesday show the enhanced dimension of his game that will translate as he targets Class AA at some point this year.

Hes an electric player, Matheny said. Hes going to be a plus-plus defender when you put him in the outfield on a consistent basis. Hes fun to watch. He brings a little bit of everything.

The Cardinals got two singles and a walk from the first three batters of the game Tuesday, and yet the inning ended with the cleanup hitter at the plate. He was as mystified as anyone by what had just happened. The Braves picked off all three Cardinals, including two on one play.

Sierra was caught leaning after a single, and Kolten Wong and Stephen Piscotty were caught off two batters later. Piscotty was tagged out as he tried to get back to first.

Baserunning has been a focus on the spring as the Cardinals were the worst in baseball last season, and theyre trying to cut Mathenys gas-pedal approach to spring with the smarter, wiser instruction of drills. Of the three pickoffs in the first inning, the error that will get addressed is the rundown Wong got in and how Piscotty was unable to reach second during it.

We do that every spring: Tell them to push the limits, Matheny said. Dont think Ive ever seen that (three pickoffs) before. But thats the message when they get back in the dugout is stay aggressive. We have to be smart. In general, the philosophy in their mind is to keep the hammer down. Look for the opportunity.

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Matheny on CF prospect Sierra: 'He's an electric player' - STLtoday.com