Nathan Church leads red hot Cardinals into Springfield homestand

During the Springfield Cardinals’ franchise-record 13-3 start to the Texas League season, a pitching staff that’s stacked with prospects has mostly lived up to its billing. But don’t sell the offense short.

The names might not register on most top-prospect boards, but up and down the lineup the Cardinals are producing. Entering the April 23 series opener against Arkansas at Hammons Field, Springfield led all of Double-A with a .287 batting average and also topped the Texas League in on-base percentage (.384), RBIs (87) and runs (94).

The offense came up big again as the Cardinals rallied from a 5-0 deficit for a 7-6 victory over the Travelers. 

Church is poppin’ 7 days a week

One of the standouts has been 23-year-old outfielder Nathan Church, a 2022 11th-round draft choice from University of California-Irvine. Church entered the homestand opener hitting .355 with three home runs. His 15 RBIs and 22 hits were most in the Texas League.

“He’s been awesome,” Cardinals manager Jose Leger said of the left-handed hitting Church. “At the top of the lineup, he can do so much with his bat. He can bunt, he can hit the ball the other way. He can pull the ball with a little bit of pop. He’s an aggressive hitter, but not a swing-and-miss guy. To have that along with his speed, it’s a beauty.”

Church’s story is even more impressive considering what he’s gone through to get to this level, much less put up big numbers. Before his college career got rolling, Church had to overcome a triple-whammy of injuries, plus a shortened-COVID 19 season.

It began with Tommy John surgery on his elbow his freshman year, thus ending his pitching career and plans to be a two-way player for the Big West Conference school. 

“Then I had a wrist surgery the COVID year and then a wrist surgery before my junior year,” Church said.

It would have been enough to dissuade many athletes from their baseball dreams. Church battled on, trying to keep things simple.

“A lot of it is just staying motivated and positive,” he said. “Just battling the adversity and keep going day-by-day versus looking at the bigger picture. Just step-by-step, that’s all I could do.”

‘Here we are’ hitting dingers in 2024

Church’s fortunes finally turned after his wrist healed from his second surgery. The southern California native led the NCAA with eight triples and a program-record 100 hits in 2021. He returned for the 2022 season and finished with a career .341 batting average in 120 games.  

“I was able to get healthy and have a good 2021, then I chose to go back to school and I had a good 2022,” Church said. “Now, here we are.”

Church had a solid season at High-A Peoria in 2023, hitting .279 with three home runs and 44 RBIs, plus 21 stolen bases. But the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder went into the offseason looking to do more.

“A lot of the winter focus was to get somewhat out in front and pull (the ball) more,” Church said. “I usually try to go to left-center, but this winter I worked on trying to pull the ball more for some power.”

So far, so good. He already has matched his home run total in 146 professional games at Low-A and High-A combined. He said he’s no threat to hit 30 home runs, but figures additional punch at the plate should enhance his prospects of advancement.

“I would say just focusing on something good to hit, plus catching it a little more out in front versus staying back on the ball,” Church said of his home-run prowess. “A little bit of it is about hitting for more power, but a lot of it is staying gap-to-gap, hitting line drives and stuff like that.”

Success in Springfield, dreams of St. Louis

Church, who can play any of the three outfield positions, is the reigning Texas League player of the week. In six games against Amarillo, he hit .360 with two home runs, six walks, eight RBIs and a stolen base.

He knows that speed probably will be a bigger factor in having a chance to eventually reach St. Louis. Working on stealing more bases is something that continues to evolve with the tutelage of Leger.

“There’s some learning about jumps and (technique), but also getting with Jose Leger and getting looks and timing off the pitchers for that game is big,” Church said. “Just doing our research before the game so we can go out and do it.”

Leger said it’s gratifying to see Church having success, especially considering the injury obstacles back in college.

“When you go through those rough injuries that slow you down, all you can do is bounce back and make sure you get your body right – getting into the trainer’s room and to the gym to do your work,” Leger said. “I’m happy for him that he is off to a good start, but more than that I’m happy he’s in the lineup every day and is healthy.”

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Nathan Church’s connection to Nolan Arenado

Healthy and happy. Church and the Cardinals are savoring their great start to the season.

“We’re having a blast. It’s easy to have fun when you’re winning,” Church said.

Church attended the same high school (El Toro in Lake Forest, California) as Cardinals’ All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. He said he attended many El Toro games as a younger, but doesn’t specifically remember seeing Arenado, who is 10 years older. 

He hasn’t crossed paths with Arenado to talk about El Toro baseball days. At least not yet. 

“But it is pretty special to be a part of the high school that he went to,” Church said.