Really, it all happened kind of fast.
In the late spring, early summer of 2011, Kolten Wong was accepting honors as a third team member of Baseball America's National Team for his play at the University of Hawaii. Only a junior, he made himself available for the MLB Draft and was picked by the Cardinals in the 1st round (22nd overall) in June.
He was a AA 'Futures Game' selection in his first full minor league season in '12. And then again in his first full AAA season in '13.
On August 16th, 2013 he was called up to The Show. A little over two months later, Wong was in the World Series. The Show's SHOW. Pretty much everyone's dream that has ever owned a mitt.
And then that happened.
The Cardinals went on to lose the World Series. Move All-Star 2B Chris Carpenter to 3B. Trade David Freese. And tab Wong as the starting 2B.
You know, unless he wasn't good in Spring Training. So they signed Mark Ellis as an insurance policy.
Basically, the Cardinals gave Wong a very conditional job on a team that's expected to be great and the only thing that most fans know about him is what you just skipped over because you couldn't stand watching it again.
But through Wednesday, Wong was actually having the 19th best Spring Training of any MLB player. OBP over .370. BA above .290. Using his power for 2 HR and 2 2B. 6RBIs. All through 9 games.
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In short, he's winning the 2B job. He's using his very, very bad introduction into MLB baseball as the catalyst for becoming a valuable member of an elite team.
Long way to go before he's entrenched at 2B. But so far, so good this spring for Mr. Wong.
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