Not many people ever expected much of Matt Carpenter at the MLB level. He was a late-round draft pick (taken in the 13th round of the 2009 draft), and because he was taken as a college senior with no leverage if he wanted to play professionally, it only took a $1,000 signing bonus for the Cardinals to bring him into their organization. His minor-league lines were pretty good, but scouts never really bought him as more than a role player (if that) at the MLB level. Though he had a good rookie season as a part-time player in 2012 — 124 wRC+ in 340 PAs — few can honestly say they saw that year as a sign of stardom to come.
Matt Carpenter might have a problem
