Jon Jay hopes to build on valuable experience

ST. LOUIS -- In the span of a month this past summer, Jon Jay went from a rookie fighting for every at-bat to one of the reasons the Cardinals were willing to part with lineup cornerstone Ryan Ludwick. Barely six weeks after that, he was once again scrounging for lineup time, a late-season slump opening the door for fellow rookie Allen Craig.

It’s safe to say that Jay, 25, hadn't had a season quite like it before.

The left-handed-hitting outfielder scuffled some in Spring Training, and so even though outfield spots were available, he didn't claim one. But he went down to Triple-A Memphis and raked, and by late April he'd earned a promotion. Jay rode the Memphis shuttle a little, but in early July he was promoted once again. No one knew it was for good.

Jay seized his opportunity, though, hitting in the first nine games (not all of them starts) after his recall. From the day he came back through July 30, he hit a ridiculous .456 and even flashed some power. That was far from the only reason that St. Louis traded Ludwick in the deal that brought in Jake Westbrook, but Jay's impressive performance at least made it a little easier to swallow.

Yet from the day of the deal, Jay went into a funk. From July 31 to the end of the season, he hit .239 with a .302 on-base percentage and nine extra-base hits in just under 200 plate appearances. Craig encroached on his playing time with a hot September, and as of now it appears that the two youngsters could form a platoon in right field for the Redbirds next year.

Jay was disappointed that he tailed off, but overall delighted with his season. He goes into the 2010-11 offseason with a mountain of new knowledge and experience.

"I feel like it was a big year for me personally, just to get the experience I got," he said. "Being around the guys I was able to be around, I got to play in a playoff race for a long time in July and August. Being a rookie and being able to experience that stuff I think is going to help me in my career. I didn't finish the way I started, but it's just one of those things you learn from."

Following the 2009 season, in which he hit reasonably well but not great at Memphis, Jay headed to Venezuela to play winter ball. He thrived in the environment, and he believes it's a big part of why he enjoyed a breakout season in '10.

"It was great for me," he said. "It was awesome. I got to play with a lot of big league guys over there, get used to the crowds and the travel and all that stuff. I got probably 700 at-bats last year where I was able to work on some stuff and figure some stuff out. I kind of sacrificed my [offseason] to go play over there, but [I knew] it was going to help me out in the long run, and I think it did."

The speedy University of Miami product has shown nice skill at the plate throughout the Minor Leagues, but it's the other parts of his game that impressed the Cardinals' field staff in his rookie season. Manager Tony La Russa frequently noted that Jay has an advanced feel for the game, and he played solid defense for the most part. His throwing arm, often downgraded in scouting reports, was good enough for him to record five outfield assists.

Jay points to improved health as a key factor in that improvement. He underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder in 2007 and '08. By '10, he was feeling more like himself.

"He's one of those guys, because he has a good sense of the game, he'll get in a good position when he throws," La Russa said. "He has enough arm strength to stop [opponents'] running game, and he throws it accurately. If he gets stronger because he's healthier, it's all to the good. But he's already played to where nobody says, 'Oh, let's take an extra base routinely.'"

He may not have the power to be a prototypical corner outfielder, though he managed 28 homers in 1,202 at-bats in the high Minors. However, he makes just about a perfect fit for a platoon with Craig. Jay hits lefty, while Craig bats from the right side. Jay is the superior defender, while Craig is the more dangerous hitter.

Ideally, they'll complement each other's skill sets perfectly. It's still possible that the Cardinals will add an outfielder, knocking both players to bench duty. But either way, Jay believes he can contribute in '11.

"I think I'm a line-drive hitter, but I can hit the ball out of the ballpark on occasion," he said. "Not a 30-home run guy or something like that, but I definitely feel like I can be a double-digit home run guy. It depends where I'm hitting in the lineup. If I need to drop a bunt down, I can do that. If I need to move a runner over, hit and run, I want to be a complete player. I want to be someone that can do a bit of everything."



(mlb.com)