The St. Louis Cardinals are on a mission to enhance their player development capabilities. With plans in motion, they have made significant hires in key director positions. Team sources have revealed that these additions are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the organization.

New Hires and Their Backgrounds

Larry Day - New Farm Director

Larry Day, 39, steps into the role after Gary LaRocque's retirement. He previously served as an assistant field coordinator for the Cleveland Guardians and worked under Rob Cerfolio. Day also managed lower-level teams in the Guardians' system from 2017 to 2019. His experience and leadership will be crucial in shaping the Cardinals' farm system.During his time with the Guardians, Day was involved in various aspects of player development. He understood the importance of a well-structured development process and brought that knowledge with him to St. Louis. His ability to work with young players and guide them towards success is highly regarded.

Carl Kochan - Director of Performance

Carl Kochan joins the Cardinals after six years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, most recently as a minor-league strength and conditioning coordinator. Before that, he spent 10 years with the San Francisco Giants, including seven seasons as the team's major-league strength and conditioning coach.Kochan's track record is impressive. He was a part of two World Series staffs and was named MLB's Strength Coach of the Year in 2016. His expertise in strength and conditioning will play a vital role in enhancing the players' physical abilities and performance.

Matt Pierpont - Director of Pitching

Matt Pierpont takes over the pitching department after four years with the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners are known for their pitching development, and Pierpont's role within the organization ranged from pitching coach to assistant pitching coordinator and pitching coordinator.During his time with the Mariners, Pierpont made significant contributions to the pitching staff. His coaching methods and strategies have been highly regarded, and he is excited to bring his expertise to the Cardinals. His focus on developing pitchers will be a key aspect of the team's player development efforts.

Overhauling the Player Development System

The Cardinals have been actively working on overhauling their player development system during the offseason. This is the first step in a multiyear process led by advisor Chaim Bloom. One of Bloom's main priorities was to secure Rob Cerfolio, who has now taken on the role of assistant general manager and is overseeing player development and performance.Cerfolio, along with Bloom and John Mozeliak, has been actively searching for new player development directors. The Cardinals carried one of baseball's smallest field coordinator staffs last season, with only five full-time coordinators. Mozeliak has indicated that adding to this staff, including an outfield coordinator and catching coordinator, will be a priority.After missing the postseason for the second straight year, the Cardinals are committed to taking a step back in 2025, which will be Mozeliak's final year as president of baseball operations. The organization wants to focus on developing internal talent and getting back to their model of drafting and developing their own players.Chairman Bill DeWitt II emphasized the importance of this approach during the Cardinals' end-of-year press conference. He said, "We have always prided ourselves on drafting and developing our own players. It is clear that we need to make significant changes to get back to this model. Our baseball decisions going forward will focus on developing our pipeline of players."With their player development leaders in place and the search for additional coordinators underway, the Cardinals will also focus on their minor-league coaching staffs at all affiliate levels. Mozeliak has indicated that some changes are expected in the minor leagues.The Cardinals are determined to build a strong foundation for the future through their player development efforts. These hires and the ongoing work in this area represent a significant investment in the team's long-term success.