Outfielder Mike O'Neill inching closer to Major League – MLB News
With the beginning of the offseason, the news that usually grab headlines are new contracts and deals. If not frequently, occasionally we also see news or analysis regarding the top prospects that are ready to make their presence felt in the Major League.
Recently, there has been a buzz about the 40-man roster that the St. Louis Cardinals have to fill. With 36 players already there, four players are to be brought in. That will be done in due course, but the Cardinals also have eyes on the Minor League players.
Figuring prominently among the list is outfielder Mike O’Neil. Like Number 4 ranked Kolten Wong, O’Neil is also playing and performing consistently to make it to the Major League. O'Neill , who was a 31st round pick in 2010, is aiming at becoming a part of the Major League.
With .342 average in Class A in the recently concluded season, he has already been promoted to Double-A Springfield. His 24 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs along with 12 stolen bases were good enough for that.
He has fully utilised the opportunity coming his way in Double-A Springfield. The outfielder had .563 batting average in the 13 games that he recently played.
With the appearance in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros, O'Neill has a long way to go.
For O’Neil, this is quite an experience but he puts it in his way.
"The pitching was a little finer, but it's still the same game," O'Neill said. "There's still a pitcher, a catcher. Nothing really changed in my mindset, and I didn't try to make it, 'Hey, now I'm in Double-A, I need to change something.' I stayed with my skill set, and that's why I feel I succeeded up there."
Like all other of his contemporaries in the Minor League, O'Neill’s focus and aspiration remains to be a part of Major League. For it, all the same, he has prepared himself for all the competition.
"Coming here, you face the best competition," O'Neill said. "Everybody aspires to be a big leaguer one day, and these guys are all future big leaguers, and just facing the best competition gets you ready for that. This has been a great experience, a learning experience, and I feel like I can hang with these guys."
His advance to Triple-A this summer speaks volume for the talent he has and the masterfulness with which he has put it into use.
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