JUPITER, Fla. • The most likely roster allotment for the Cardinals this season would be 12 pitchers and five extra men to go with the eight regulars, equaling the 25-player limit. But, for the second season in succession, the Cardinals have a chance to employ 13 pitchers with five extra men or 12 pitchers with six bench players.
That would seem to add up to 26 players. This is where lefthanded-throwing, lefthanded-batting Jordan Schafer comes in. The speedy Schafer, who has 103 big-league stolen bases as an outfielder, converted to relief pitching in 2016 in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system, largely because of his low .228 big-league batting average in 1,292 at-bats with Atlanta, Houston and Minnesota.
Schafer pitched in 40 minor-league games with success and was impressive in the first couple of weeks of Cardinals’ camp last year. But, trying to push through some forearm issues that cropped up after his second mound appearance, he struggled in his last couple of outings and instead of making the team as an intriguing, two-way, non-roster player, he wound up on the operating table. The relative good news was that the surgery was not the full-blown Tommy John elbow replacement but merely a ligament repair.
Late in the season, Schafer actually got into some minor league games — as a designated hitter for the Cardinals’ Gulf Coast League team and as an outfielder for Memphis, where he batted .450 in 20 at-bats.
The Cardinals haven’t abandoned the dream, inviting Schafer, 31, to another big-league camp as a minor leaguer and the process begins anew, with Schafer already throwing off the mound. He had been doing that as early as a month following the end of the season.
“I wasn’t necessarily ready to throw in games then, but my arm was healed,” Schafer said Friday.
Schafer also will do plenty of throwing this spring as an outfielder, and he figures to tap into new coach Willie McGee’s basestealing program.
“He’s the man,” said Schafer. “I’ve had a lot of success stealing bases. But Willie’s had a lot more success (352 career steals) than I’ve had.”
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Last spring, Schafer was doing something different almost every day, but he insists the various methods of throwing had nothing to do with needing surgery.
“It was just wear and tear over the years,” said Schafer. “Honestly, I don’t think it had anything to do with the load that I had. Obviously, with me coming off the surgery, I’ll be smart and if I’m feeling a little tired, I’ll take a day (off). I’m not going to go all out from day one. But the stuff off the mound is more important to me right now because they know pretty much how I can help out being an outfielder for so long — either being in the outfield or hitting or stealing bases. I need to focus more on the mound stuff, to show that my arm is healthy and I can get guys out.”
But Schafer could be an extra pitcher and an extra player at the same time. And the Cardinals, whose lefthanded relief was sketchy last year, may well need some help in the bullpen as Schafer hopes to be able to reach 92 miles per hour to complement his curveball, changeup and slider.
“I feel great now and if I can just keep that going … but I literally have no idea what to expect,” he said.
Schafer isn’t the only player trying to be a two-way performer this year. Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has signed on to be a pitcher and player for the Los Angeles Angels, although he will be a starting pitcher once or so a week and a designated hitter so he won’t have any other throwing duties involved.
In theory, Schafer could come in to face a lefthanded hitter, play defense in the outfield, pinch run, pinch hit or even bunt a runner over as a pinch hitter. “That’s very valuable to a team,” said Schafer, who allowed that more of these things are possible with a National League team, where the pitcher’s spot hits.
“It gives a lot of flexibility to a roster,” he said. “I can do anything. I just have to be prepared at all times to do everything.
“How long has it been since someone’s done it both ways for an entire season?” he wondered. “It’s fun. It’s a challenge.”
The Cardinals easily could have cut ties with Schafer after the experiment didn’t play out last year, and he appreciates their patience.
“They didn’t have to let me rehab here (in Jupiter),” said Schafer. “They didn’t have to let me come back and try this again. So, I’m very grateful to the organization.”
Although he has spent most of his professional life as a position player, Schafer said, “Ever since I’ve been in high school, I’ve always loved pitching the most. I thought I was going to be drafted as a pitcher. It’s always been the most enjoyable because it’s competition every single pitch.”
The Braves took him as an outfielder out of Winter Haven, Fla,., in the third round in 2005 and he made the majors for the first time as an outfielder in 2009, becoming the first player in history to homer in his first plate appearance on opening day when he hit one off Philadelphia’s Brett Myers.
A lot of miles have been traveled by Schafer since that April 5 day nine years ago. Gwinnett, Rome, Mississippi, Oklahoma City, Houston, Atlanta, Minnesota, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Memphis all have been home bases at one time or another for him.
He even made it overseas this last New Year’s Eve as he and some friends went to Paris, where his grandmother had been born.
“Not a good experience,” said Schafer, who contracted food poisoning. “Too much cream and oil on everything.”
One of the goals was to witness New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Arc de Triomphe. Longtime Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who long has worked out in Orlando, Fla., with Schafer, was on hand, too, with his family.
“It was 12:01 and it was like ‘Where are the fireworks?’
“Are we missing something?’” Schafer texted Gonzalez.
Schafer later learned there had been some terrorist threats and the fireworks had been scrubbed, so as not to alarm anyone. Other than the food and the missing fireworks, Schafer said he enjoyed himself. He will always have Paris. Now, will he have a shot with the Cardinals as the rare, two-way player?
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