The St. Louis Cardinals are addressing gaps in their adoption of baseball technology by expanding their performance and player development teams. Led by new Director of Performance Carl Kochan, the organization has grown its staff significantly since 2020 to better manage data and improve player health and performance. Challenges remain in coordinating across departments and handling big data.
The St. Louis Cardinals have made substantial organizational changes to keep pace with the technology revolution in Major League Baseball, emphasizing personnel over equipment. In Part II of a series on Viva El Birdos, the focus shifts to the people integrating tools like Force Plates and the Kinatrax system, which generate vast amounts of data on player mechanics and physiology.
Carl Kochan, who replaced Robert Butler as Director of Performance just over a year ago, oversees a department that has expanded from two positions in 2020 to 19 today. This includes three strength and conditioning specialists, two rehab experts, three medical coordinators, four Minor League trainers, a nutritionist, and four performance science experts. Kochan's role involves creating a performance model that accounts for travel, fatigue, and game demands, particularly the sustained workload for pitchers and catchers versus the bursty efforts of position players, who may only exert acutely for 5-10 minutes in a three-hour game.
The player development team, now at 29 members under Larry Day, has doubled from 16 in 2024, with most original staff replaced except Jose Oquendo. A current job opening seeks a biomechanist in Jupiter, Florida, to collaborate on motion analysis and player tracking.
Managing the 'ocean of data' poses challenges, including no centralized repository for biomechanical information and ensuring consistency across sites like Palm Beach, Peoria, Springfield, Memphis, and St. Louis. Arm care is a priority, with data used to prevent injuries and optimize performance. Cultural and linguistic barriers also hinder progress, as many prospects speak limited English, straining translation efforts.
Hires like Kochan, Larry Day, and others in the 2024-2025 offseason aim to bridge 'stovepipes' between scouting, development, and performance. A case study involves pitcher Mathew Liberatore, whose velocity dropped in an early June start against Kansas City due to mechanics 'out of sync' from 'fatigue issues,' per his words. Tests ruled out injury, leading to targeted conditioning programs.
Prospect Joshua Baez noted information overload, stressing the need to simplify for gains. While progress is evident, full cohesion and data application remain works in progress.
