Juan Yepez is a promising young baseball player who has shown plenty of potential in his brief career. He began his professional career in the Atlanta Braves’ organization in 2014, signing as an international free agent, and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018.
Since then, Yepez has continued to develop his skills and impress scouts with his hitting ability and defensive versatility. In 2021, he was called up to the Cardinals’ major league roster and even made the 26-man roster for the National League Wild Card Game.
But what happened to Juan Yepez after that? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Yepez’s career so far and explore what might be in store for him in the future.
Yepez’s Early Career
Juan Yepez began his professional baseball career in 2014 when he signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent out of Venezuela. He was just 16 years old at the time, but the Braves saw a lot of potential in the young infielder.
Yepez spent the next several years working his way up through the Braves minor league system. He showed promise early on, posting solid numbers in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Low-A Appalachian League.
However, Yepez’s breakout season came in 2017 when he played for the Braves Single-A affiliate, the Rome Braves. In 123 games that season, Yepez hit .275 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. He also showed his versatility by playing first base, third base, and the outfield.
Yepez’s strong performance in 2017 put him on the radar of other teams around the league, and he was eventually traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 as part of a deal that sent relief pitcher Matt Adams to Atlanta.
Despite the change of scenery, Yepez continued to impress in the Cardinals’ system, quickly climbing the ranks to the higher levels of the minors.
Yepez’s Time in the Cardinals’ Organization
After being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018, Juan Yepez joined the organization’s Double-A affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals. He got off to a bit of a slow start with his new team, hitting just .237 with three home runs in 42 games.
However, he rebounded in 2019, putting up solid numbers with Springfield and the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds.
In 2020, Yepez spent most of the season at the Cardinals’ alternate training site due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he continued to work on his game and improve his skills.
He returned to Memphis for the 2021 season and had a strong showing, hitting .292 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs in 86 games. He also continued to play multiple positions, logging time at first base, third base, and in the outfield.
Yepez’s performance in Triple-A earned him a call-up to the Cardinals’ major league roster in September 2021. He made his MLB debut on September 7, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Though he only appeared in 11 games with the Cardinals in 2021, Yepez showed flashes of his potential and left a positive impression on the coaching staff.
Yepez’s Brief Stint in the Majors
Juan Yepez received his first call-up to the major leagues in September 2021, after a strong showing in Triple-A. He made his debut on September 7, 2021, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Over the course of the rest of the season, he appeared in 11 games with the Cardinals, hitting .222 with two RBIs.
Despite his limited playing time, Yepez was added to the Cardinals’ 26-man roster for the National League Wild Card Game on October 6, 2021.
This was a significant achievement for the young infielder, as it meant that the coaching staff saw him as a valuable contributor to the team’s postseason efforts.
However, Yepez did not actually make an appearance in the game. This was likely due to a combination of factors, including the fact that he was a relatively untested rookie and that the Cardinals had other players with more experience and proven track records.
Additionally, the Cardinals were playing in a high-stakes postseason game, and the coaching staff may have preferred to rely on players with more established roles and routines.
While Yepez’s lack of playing time in the Wild Card Game might have been disappointing for him personally, it doesn’t necessarily reflect poorly on his status with the team.
The fact that he was added to the roster in the first place shows that the Cardinals value his potential and believe he has a bright future in the organization.
What’s Next for Yepez?
Juan Yepez began the 2022 season with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, where he will continue to work on his game and develop his skills.
While it’s always possible that he could be called up to the majors again at some point during the season, it’s also likely that he’ll spend much of the year in the minors, getting regular playing time and honing his abilities.
In terms of Yepez’s long-term prospects with the Cardinals, there are certainly reasons to be optimistic. He has shown that he has the potential to be a valuable contributor both at the plate and in the field, and his versatility makes him a useful asset for any team.
Additionally, he’s still quite young, with plenty of time to continue developing and refining his game. However, there are also some areas where Yepez will need to improve if he wants to solidify his spot on the Cardinals’ roster.
For one thing, he’ll need to continue working on his consistency at the plate, as he has sometimes struggled with strikeouts and maintaining a high batting average.
Additionally, he may need to focus on improving his defensive skills at certain positions, particularly third base, where he has shown some weaknesses in the past.
Overall, there’s no doubt that Juan Yepez has the potential to be a successful major league player. Whether he’s able to realize that potential with the Cardinals or another team remains to be seen, but there’s reason to be hopeful that he’ll continue to grow and develop as a player in the coming years.
Juan Yepez’s Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Level | Games Played | Plate Appearances | At-Bats | Hits | Home Runs | Runs Batted In | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | DSL Braves | Rookie | 53 | 227 | 203 | 45 | 3 | 21 | .222 | .308 | .299 |
| 2015 | GCL Braves | Rookie | 40 | 163 | 139 | 33 | 2 | 16 | .237 | .309 | .338 |
| 2016 | Danville Braves | Low-A | 61 | 264 | 230 | 53 | 3 | 34 | .230 | .313 | .322 |
| 2017 | Rome Braves | Single-A | 123 | 529 | 469 | 129 | 16 | 73 | .275 | .339 | .478 |
| 2018 | Springfield Cardinals | Double-A | 42 | 177 | 162 | 39 | 3 | 23 | .241 | .291 | .358 |
| 2018 | Palm Beach Cardinals | Single-A | 58 | 247 | 214 | 54 | 3 | 27 | .252 | .320 | .421 |
| 2019 | Springfield Cardinals | Double-A | 110 | 457 | 408 | 115 | 11 | 60 | .282 | .341 | .387 |
| 2019 | Memphis Redbirds | Triple-A | 15 | 57 | 48 | 11 | 0 | 4 | .229 | .351 | .292 |
| 2020 | Alternate Training Site | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | Memphis Redbirds | Triple-A | 86 | 348 | 303 | 88 | 17 | 56 | .292 | .371 | .525 |
| 2021 | St. Louis Cardinals | MLB | 11 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .222 | .222 | .389 |
Note: These statistics are accurate as of September 2021 and may not include any subsequent developments.
FAQs
Is Juan Yepez primarily a first baseman, or does he play other positions?
Juan Yepez has shown versatility throughout his career, playing first base, third base, and the outfield at various times. While he may be best suited to playing first base, his ability to play multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for any team.
How does Juan Yepez’s offensive game compare to his defensive game?
Juan Yepez is known for his strong offensive potential, particularly his ability to hit for power. However, his defensive skills are also solid, and he has shown the ability to play multiple positions effectively. While he may not be a Gold Glove-level defender at any one position, his versatility and overall defensive ability make him a useful player to have on any roster.
What is Juan Yepez’s contract status with the Cardinals?
As of September 2021, Juan Yepez was not yet arbitration-eligible, meaning that he was still on a standard pre-arbitration contract. This means that he is under team control through the 2025 season, after which he will become eligible for free agency if he is not signed to a new contract before then.
Has Juan Yepez dealt with any significant injuries during his career?
While Juan Yepez has not suffered any major injuries during his career, he did miss some time in 2019 with a wrist injury. However, he has been relatively healthy overall and has not had any major issues that have prevented him from playing or developing his skills.
Does Juan Yepez have any notable accomplishments or awards?
While Juan Yepez has not yet won any major awards or accolades, he has put up solid numbers throughout his minor league career and has shown plenty of potentials at the plate and in the field.
If he continues to develop his skills and realize his potential, there’s no doubt that he could become a highly-regarded player in the future.
Conclusion
Juan Yepez is a talented baseball player who has shown plenty of potential in his brief career so far. He began his professional journey in the Atlanta Braves organization, but he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 and has been working his way up through their minor league system ever since.
In 2021, Yepez made his major league debut with the Cardinals and even made the 26-man roster for the National League Wild Card Game.
While Yepez’s playing time with the Cardinals was limited in 2021, he has shown enough promise to suggest that he has a bright future in the organization.
He will continue to work on his game in the minors in 2022, with the hope of eventually returning to the majors and establishing himself as a valuable contributor to the team.
There’s no doubt that Yepez has the potential to be a successful major league player, but he’ll need to continue developing his skills and refining his game if he wants to achieve that goal.
With his versatility, offensive potential, and solid defensive skills, he has a lot to offer any team that he plays for, and it will be exciting to see where his career takes him in the coming years.
