The Cardinals added two strikeout pitchers and a versatile infielder/outfielder with a high on-base percentage to their 40-man roster Friday, protecting the trio against the upcoming Rule V draft of minor-leaguers.
Probably closest to the majors is lefthanded-hitting Brendan Donovan, who is hitting .333 with a .450 on-base percentage and 1.013 OPS for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League after batting .304 with an .854 OPS at three levels of the Cardinals’ organization this season, finishing up at Class AAA Memphis. Donovan has played every position but catcher, pitcher and center field this year.
Besides the 24-year-old Donovan, 23-year-old righthander Freddy Pacheco likewise played at Class A Peoria, Class AA Springfield and Memphis this past season, striking out 95 in 54 innings with a total of 11 saves.