In the previous two June drafts, the Cardinals have selected a total of 81 players, some of whom signed and went right to work and some of whom have already emerged as top prospects for the team.
Nearly a fifth of them were released on the same day last week.
In a series of sweeping transactions the Cardinals, like many Major League Baseball clubs, reduced the size of their minor-league rosters by releasing a total of 33 players this past Wednesday. The transactions posted officially on June 1 and they include players at every domestic affiliate, from the Gulf Coast League to Class AAA Memphis.