Central STL News

Travis Honeyman, an outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, is aiming to build on his strong start in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) as he works to overcome a series of injuries that have hampered his progress through the minor leagues.

Honeyman, 24, demonstrated his excitement about being selected for the AFL by hitting a 429-foot home run off Royals prospect Hunter Owen last week. The home run was one of three he hit during 82 games split between Single-A Palm Beach and High-A Peoria this past season.

“Take balls and swing at strikes,” Honeyman said regarding his approach at the plate. “When it's going well, it's going well. I feel like with the way I am as a hitter, it never really gets too bad because I can run a little. When I'm going well, obviously there are going to be more extra-base hits, homers and more confidence.”

The Cardinals hope that participation in the AFL will help restore Honeyman’s confidence after injuries disrupted what had been a promising trajectory. He was considered by some draft analysts to be a potential first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft following three productive years at Boston College and success in the Cape Cod League during summer 2022. However, an injury just before the draft led him to fall into the third round where St. Louis selected him with pick number 90.

“Projections are projections, and they don't mean much, but I was projected to go a little bit earlier and, obviously, [make] more money and stuff like that,” said Honeyman, who signed with St. Louis for $700,000. “But I honestly think that everything happens for a reason. I'm a firm believer in that. So, the Cardinals taking me [in the third round], I think that that was supposed to happen. I'm blessed.”

Honeyman is among eight Cardinals prospects currently playing for Glendale Desert Dogs in Arizona Fall League competition. Other participants include pitchers Chen-Wei Lin (the organization’s No. 16 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), Tyler Bradt, D.J. Carpenter, Randel Clemente and Darlin Saladin; outfielder Miguel Ugueto; and catcher Graysen Tarlow. Ugueto recently hit an opposite-field three-run homer while Lin struck out four batters over two scoreless innings.

So far in AFL play this year Honeyman has collected two hits—including his notable home run—three runs scored and two stolen bases without being caught.

He recognizes that selection for AFL play often signals organizational belief in players’ proximity to major league readiness: “Everybody's really talented here and obviously if your organization's sending you here there's a reason why,” Honeyman said. “When [Cards’ director of player development] Larry Day told me in Peoria that I was going to the Fall League, I told him that I had been following this league forever and it’s been a dream of mine since I can remember. I can remember maybe 10 years ago watching YouTube videos of Ronald Acuña Jr. starring in the Fall League. So I've always wanted to be here.”

After producing OPS totals above .900 during his final two seasons at Boston College (.908/.917), Honeyman suffered a significant shoulder injury requiring reconstruction which reduced his power output early in pro ball play.

Upon returning from surgery he was promoted to High-A Peoria on May 27 but sustained another setback just two days later with a hamstring pull while running out a grounder—a strain which sidelined him for over two weeks.

Despite these challenges he managed five doubles and one home run over 53 games at Peoria with a .268 batting average.

“Yeah, the injuries have definitely been a challenge mentally,” said Honeyman whose older brother Bobby played professionally after being drafted by Seattle Mariners but reached only Double-A level by 2021.

“I’ve got a great support staff with my brother and my family and a lot of guys in the Cardinals' organization that have helped me get through rehab and stuff like that.

So it’s been rocky but it feels good to get back out there playing again.”