Eagen reaches double-digit K's for 3rd time in past 4 starts
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Daniel Eagen, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Lars Nootbaar trade, has been nasty since coming over to the St. Louis organization.
The right-handed pitcher struck out 11 batters in his latest start on Tuesday, marking the third time in his past four outings with double-digit punchouts. He tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, in Double-A Springfield’s 10-7 win over Arkansas at Route 66 Stadium.
Eagen struck out the side in order in the first inning before a double and homer blemished the second frame. He bounced back with another 1-2-3 inning in the third before Charlie Pagliarini (Mariners) homered to lead off the fourth. Eagen was unscored upon the rest of the way, working around a couple of singles.
The 23-year-old Eagen -- who set records in his college days at Presbyterian with 122 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings in 2024 -- has now struck out 157 batters in 122 innings in 2026. That number ties Adam Seminaris (Phillies) for tops in the Minor Leagues this season.
The Cardinals’ new No. 22 prospect, Eagen has additionally fanned 48 in 34 2/3 innings since the trade, most in the Minors since he made his organizational debut on Aug. 8. That stretch has featured three quality starts, two starts in which he finished one out shy of “quality” and a five-inning appearance in which he allowed four runs. Eagen has also walked just seven batters in his six starts as a Cardinal.
Like he did on Tuesday, Eagen has used his full arsenal during this extended stretch of success. He features a mid-90s fastball with sharp breaking balls, a 60-grade curve and 55-grade slider. The 2024 third-round Draft pick can also mix in a splitter.
Eagen’s season got off to a shaky start, with an 8.71 ERA through five April starts. But he’s been strong for the large majority of the year, shrinking that number to 4.72 across 26 starts, all in Double-A.