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| Tyler Greene has struggled at the plate in a Cardinal uniform. He will be battling with Daniel Descalso for the last spot on the major league roster in 2011. |
Both have spent several seasons in the minor leagues and have excelled. Both have shown an ability to be flexible and play multiple positions well. Both have obvious upside at the plate.
Now that the Cardinals have signed utility infielder Nick Punto to a one year contract though, there aren't enough spots on the big league roster for both Greene and Descalso to fit.
While neither Descalso or Greene are considered among baseball's elite prospects, both players were homegrown in the farm system and have made the track and have earned the opportunity to compete in the big leagues.
Both are also at the end of the "prospect" road as Greene, at 27, and Descalso, 24, are not getting any younger.
Greene has spent parts of the past two seasons shuttling back and forth from Memphis to St. Louis. In 212 career at-bats at the major league level, Greene has hit just .222 with 4 home runs.
But the natural shortstop has excelled in Memphis. In 2010 Greene played in 82 games for the Redbirds, hitting .284 with 9 home runs and 12 stolen bases, flashing the signs of power, speed, and defense that justified the Cardinals selecting him with their first pick in the 2005 draft.
Descalso, a left-handed hitting 3rd round pick in 2007, was a September call-up in 2010 for the Cardinals. In 11 games, Descalso hit .265 with 4 RBI's while filling in primarily at third base.
Descalso hit .282 with 9 home runs and 71 RBI's in 2010 for Memphis, numbers that would support offense out of the middle infield position.
With Punto added to mix to a guaranteed contract, it is unlikely that both Green and Descalso will be in St. Louis in 2011.
It should be interesting to watch who wins this battle for the last spot on the roster.
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