Thomas Saggese
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Thomas Saggese
|image = Profile saggese2 Pirates 9-16-24 27450.png
|caption = Saggese with the Cardinals in 2024
|team = St. Louis Cardinals
|number = 25
|position = Infielder
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|4|10}}
|birth_place = Carlsbad, California, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 10
|debutyear = 2024
|debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = April 18, 2025
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .280
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 2
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 9
|teams =
- St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2024}}–present)
}}
Thomas Darren Saggese ({{Respell|sə|JAY|see}}; 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.{{cite web | url=https://theathletic.com/1867784/2020/06/12/ive-flown-under-the-radar-rangers-picks-surprise-on-day-2-of-draft/ | title='I've flown under the radar': Explaining Rangers' surprising Day 2 draft picks | website=The Athletic | last1=Weaver | first1=Levi }} He batted .440 with three home runs over seven games in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/story/2020-06-10/mlb-draft-san-diego-thomas-saggese-braden-olthoff-casey-schmitt | title=North County players Thomas Saggese, Braden Olthoff rising in MLB Draft | date=June 10, 2020 }}
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.{{cite web | url=https://kpyn.net/rangers-pick-four-in-day-2-of-mlb-draft/ | title=Rangers pick four in Day 2 of MLB Draft | date=June 12, 2020 }}{{cite web | url=https://thecoastnews.com/carlsbad-high-star-drafted-by-mlbs-rangers/ | title=The Coast News Group | date=June 18, 2020 }} He signed with the club for $800,000, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Pepperdine University.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-sign-tekoah-roby-thomas-saggese | title=Rangers ink Roby, Saggese; all 5 picks signed | website=MLB.com }}
File:Thomas Saggese (vOhAcekUDDo) (cropped).png in 2022]]
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/30-young-minor-league-hitters-looking-to-build-on-2021-success-one-from-each-mlb-team/ | title=30 Young Minor League Hitters Looking to Build on 2021 Success | date=March 3, 2022 }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-rangers-announce-minor-league-award-winners-for-july-2022 | title=Rangers announce Minor League Award winners for July | website=MLB.com }} He was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League for the seasons final week and playoffs.{{cite web |last=RotoWire |first=Staff |date=September 12, 2022 |title=Rangers' Thomas Saggese: Climbs to Double-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-thomas-saggese-climbs-to-double-a/ |website=CBSSports.com}} Over 103 games between the two teams, he slashed .312/.361/.506 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, 25 doubles, and 12 stolen bases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|title = 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled|website = MLB.com}} Saggese received the Texas Rangers 2022 True Ranger Award, and was named to the South Atlantic League postseason All-Star Team.{{Cite web |last=Bigley |first=Zach |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Former Riders sweep 2022 Rangers MiLB awards |url=https://www.milb.com/news/former-riders-sweep-2022-rangers-milb-awards |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=MiLB.com}}{{Cite web |last=Resnick |first=Jacob |date=November 9, 2022 |title=High-A award winners and All-Stars |url=https://www.milb.com/news/high-a-all-stars-mvp-top-prospect-2022 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=MiLB.com}} He returned to Frisco to open the 2023 season.{{cite web | last=Callis | first=Jim | title=Where Rangers top prospects are starting 2023 season | website=MLB.com | date=April 4, 2023 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-rangers-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season | access-date=February 16, 2025}}
=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.{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=R.J. | title=Jordan Montgomery trade grades: Rangers earn 'A' for another big move as Cardinals acquire prospects | website=CBSSports.com | date=July 30, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jordan-montgomery-trade-grades-rangers-earn-a-for-another-big-move-as-cardinals-acquire-prospects/amp/ | access-date=February 16, 2025}} 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.{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2023 |title=Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Promoted to Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-thomas-saggese-promoted-to-triple-a/ |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} Over 139 games played, Saggese slashed .306/.374/.530 with 26 home runs, 111 RBI, and 34 doubles.{{Cite web |last=Glaser |first=Kyle |date=September 27, 2023 |title=2023 Baseball America Minor League All-Star Teams |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-baseball-america-minor-league-all-star-teams/ |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}} After the season, he won the 2023 Texas League Most Valuable Player Award.{{cite web|last=Trezza|first=Joe|url=https://www.milb.com/news/double-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023|title=The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 26, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926201452/https://www.milb.com/news/double-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Dayn |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Cardinals promote top prospect Thomas Saggese to majors for MLB debut |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/cardinals-promote-top-prospect-thomas-saggese-to-majors-for-mlb-debut/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |website=CBS Sports}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Cardinals Option Thomas Saggese and Others to Triple-A|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/cardinals_option_thomas_saggese_and_others_to_triple_a/s1_17353_41914279|access-date=March 19, 2025|website=yardbarker.com|language=en}} The Cardinals promoted Saggese to the major leagues on April 2 when Nolan Gorman went on the injured list.https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/04/04/cardinals-recall-saggese-gorman-heads-il/
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Thomas Saggese}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=695336|espn=4999876|br=s/saggeth01|fangraphs=27883|brm=sagges000tho|retro=S/Psaggt001}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saggese, Thomas}}
Category:Baseball players from San Diego County, California
Category:Down East Wood Ducks players
Category:Frisco RoughRiders players
Category:Hickory Crawdads players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Memphis Redbirds players
Category:Sportspeople from Carlsbad, California
Category:Springfield Cardinals players