Mather emerges from the minor-league abyss

After a high school player is drafted and signs a professional baseball contract, he can disappear into the abyss of the minor leagues.

There were 1,453 high school and college players drafted over 50 rounds in last season’s Major League Baseball June Amateur draft.

Riding buses for six or seven months a year, local heroes can become forgotten even at home.

But the St. Louis Cardinals haven’t forgotten about Mountain Pointe graduate Joe Mather, a third-round pick out of the 2001 draft and a member of that organization throughout his minor league career.

In October the Cardinals proved that they still had faith in Mather, who ripped a Mountain Pointe school record 23 home runs in three seasons with the Pride, when they placed him on their 40-man roster.

That keeps him in the organization and protected from any other organization.

“It doesn’t mean I’ll be in St. Louis next year,” Mather said. “I still have to fight for a spot on the team, but I’m honored to be on the 40-man roster.”

Mather was scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League this season, but a strained elbow left the outfielder resting at home in Ahwatukee Foothills.

“That was a real bummer because the Fall League was something that I wanted to do since I was drafted,” Mather said.

He thinks he over-extended the elbow in long toss preparing for the Fall League.

“I was probably throwing a little too hard or a little too far,” he explained. “It was probably one too many throws, but I did get in a few games and it was worth the experience. It takes about six weeks of rest and that pretty much took me out of the Fall League.”

The Cardinals assured Mather that his status was not jeopardized.

“They told me not to worry about it, get some rest and that they would take care of me next year,” Mather added.

Although his Fall League season was a short one, it was still memorable. He was playing at Mesa’s HoHoKam Field, spring training home of the Chicago Cubs.

“It was great,” he said. “I was living at home and driving to the field every day. It was about as close as I could get to home. I was lucky I wasn’t out in Surprise or somewhere like that.”

Mather expects to be in the Cardinals spring training camp next spring.

“I think I’m still a prospect and that’s a good position to be in,” he said. “Everyone in the minor leagues wants to get on the 40-man roster and ultimately the 25-man roster.”

Mather feels he has a good chance to make the team out of spring training next year.

“If I don’t, I still have a good shot at moving up throughout the year and hopefully stay on the roster,” he added.

Mather was expected to be cleared to play later this month and was available to defend his title at the Alumni Home Run Derby Dec. 15 at Mountain Pointe.

“It will be fun to go back and see everyone again and defend the home run title,” Mather said.

He can also prove that he hasn’t vanished into the underworld of minor league baseball.

Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.