The Cardinals’ reengineering and augmenting of personnel this offseason to improve how they handle the increasing and widening streams of data available now has a conduit to the clubhouse.
As part of a series of promotions announced Tuesday, the Cardinals introduced for the second time in as many winters a new, analytics-oriented position for manager Mike Shildt’s major-league staff. Patrick Elkins, a former minor-leaguer who had been in pro scouting for the Cardinals, will move to the clubhouse to be the team’s “Major League Internal Player Strategist.” The purpose of the position is to offer set of eyes who can synthesize video scouting and statistical data for the use of players and coaches.