The Springfield Cardinals are also proud to announce that Springfield Pitching Coach Jason Simontacchi has been named the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Texas League Coach of the Year.
In his third season as the Springfield Pitching Coach, the former St. Louis Cardinal guided Springfield’s pitching staff to the 2nd-best team ERA in the league this season, tied with the Tulsa Drillers at 3.62. Under Simontacchi’s tutelage, Cardinals RHP Dakota Hudson was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first-ever Springfield hurler to win that award.
Additionally, three Cardinals starting pitchers collected Texas League Player of the Month Awards, with RHP Jack Flaherty honored for April, RHP Matt Pearce winning it for May and LHP Austin Gomber collecting it for August. Flaherty, Hudson and Pearce were each named to the exclusive Texas League Postseason All-Star Roster, accounting for three of the six spots for pitchers on the team.
In 2017 alone, seven former Springfield Cardinals that Simontacchi worked with at Hammons Field have toed the rubber for St. Louis, including RHP Luke Weaver, RHP Jack Flaherty, RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP John Brebbia, LHP Ryan Sherriff, RHP Josh Lucas and RHP Mike Mayers.
