ST. LOUIS -- Left-hander Genesis Cabrera, who wowed talent evaluators with his velocity and success in the Dominican Winter League, is now ready to try and rebound from a shaky spring as he opens his year with Triple-A Memphis.

Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cardinals’ No. 9 prospect, Cabrera is not a member of Memphis’ Opening Day rotation, though he will be stretched out in a piggyback role. He’s likely to make his first appearance on Saturday, behind 10th-ranked prospect Ryan Helsley, whose workload will be closely monitored all year since he’s coming off an injury-shortened season.

While Cabrera has ascended through the Minors as a starting pitcher, his quickest path to the Majors will likely come in relief. The Cardinals, who acquired the 22-year-old lefty from the Rays in the Tommy Pham trade last summer, caught a glimpse of what that could look like when Cabrera struck out 21 over 14 1/3 innings in winter ball. His fastball registered as high as 98 mph on the radar gun.

That showing had the Cardinals giddy about what they’d see of Cabrera in his first Major League Spring Training, but the results didn’t match the hype. He surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and four walks in three innings before being one of the first players sent out to Minor League camp.

“It was definitely not the camp we had hoped for,” president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. “When you look at how he threw in winter ball and the excitement of when we acquired him last year to where he is now, it wasn’t what we had hoped. Get him back to throwing strikes. Get him back to where he can tap into that velocity. I think that’s what we hope for.”

One of the reasons the Cardinals left Cabrera out of the rotation at Memphis for now is that they were deep in other options. Austin Gomber drew the Opening Day start and lifted the Redbirds to a win while allowing one run over six innings.

Helsley, Jake Woodford, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Mike Hauschild round out the rest of the Cardinals’ starting five.

Other affiliate news:

• Though three of the Cardinals’ top six prospects are third basemen, the organization has found a way to keep each at his natural position by spreading out their assignments.

Elehuris Montero, the reigning Midwest League Most Valuable Player, opened the season in Double-A Springfield. Nolan Gorman, the club's top overall prospect, returned to low-A Peoria and posted a 4-for-4 night on Friday in which he hit a pair of doubles and a triple. Malcom Nunez remained in extended spring training, and will join an affiliate later in the year.

• Triple-A Memphis will feature a rotation of infielders, as the Cardinals are prioritizing versatility with a number of their players. Tommy Edman, Ramon Urias, Edmundo Sosa and Max Schrock are all earmarked to play multiple infield positions.

Drew Robinson, who was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, will also get work across the infield, as well as in center field.