The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have purchased the contracts of shortstop Aledmys Diaz and left-handed pitcher Dean Kiekhefer from Memphis (AAA) and outfielder Charlie Tilson from Springfield (AA). All three players have been added to the team’s 40-man Major League roster which currently stands at 36.
Diaz, 25, split time in 2015 between Springfield and Memphis, batting a combined .278 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI in 116 games. The Cuban native has enjoyed a strong showing in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League, currently ranking among the league’s top-10 in HR’s (4-T3rd), RBI (14-T8th), runs (16-2nd), doubles (7-2nd), slugging pct. (.618-5th) and on-base + slugging (.986-6th). A member of the Arizona Fall League’s Surprise Saguaros along with Kiekhefer and Tilson, Diaz is ranked 12th in AFL batting at .309.
Kiekhefer, 26, spent the entire 2015 season at Memphis where he was 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 50 games, walking only 7 in 59.2 innings of relief work. The 2010 draft selection (36th round out of the University of Louisville) is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA and 2 saves in the AFL, striking out 14 in his 15.1 IP (9 games) and has issued just one walk.
Tilson, 22, was a 2nd round draft selection in 2011 out of New Trier (Ill.) High School. The left-handed hitting centerfielder batted .295 in his first full season (134 games) at the Double-A level and swiped a career-high 46 bags to lead the Texas League. Tilson is batting .200 with four stolen bases in 19 games played during the AFL season.
