TEMECULA - Allen Craig is sitting in the corner booth of a pizza restaurant not far from his parent's home in Temecula. It's lunchtime, but the entering crowd pays him no mind. Above his head is a television, tuned to ESPN, on which an analyst is discussing young and talented baseball players and the riches they will soon earn.
It's quite possible that in 12 months the same analyst will be talking about Craig. The 25-year-old baseball player who grew up in Temecula is considered one of the top minor league prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2006, Craig has exceeded expectations at almost every level of his development, and just last month was recognized as the organization's minor league player of the year.
So why do patrons pass without notice?
Craig's still waiting for his big break. Blocked at first base by the best player in baseball and blocked in left field by a newly signed veteran, Craig is entering his fifth season in professional baseball still hoping to get his foot in the door.
"I've worked really hard to get where I'm at," said the former Temecula Chaparral standout between bites of turkey sandwich. "A lot of baseball games. A lot of cage work. A lot of time at the gym. When you get so close you kind of reflect on where you started, where you are and where you want to go.
"The opportunities are right there, so now it's just time to take the next step and play well when given the opportunity."
Likened to Dobbs
It began with a bet between scouts.
Mike Spiers, an area scout with the Atlanta Braves, was so sure Craig would someday make the major leagues that he wagered an expensive dinner with a colleague who thought otherwise. While one scout considered Craig too small to be a major leaguer, Spiers had reason to be confident. Spiers coached Craig for five seasons on the ABD Bulldogs travel baseball team based in San Bernardino and deemed him one of the best hitters in program history.
"Greg Dobbs of the Phillies was probably the best hitter we had in our program," Spiers said. "Allen was right there."
When the Cardinals took Craig in the eighth round in 2006 and offered him $25,000 to sign -- a small amount by exorbitant draft standards -- the bet was on.
Craig has since shot through the Cardinals organization. He's a career .306 hitter with 76 home runs in four minor league seasons and had his most productive year last season in Class AAA.
Had his Class AAA Memphis Redbirds not made it all the way to the Pacific Coast League championship, Craig likely would have been a September call-up for the Cardinals. Instead, Craig helped lead his team to a title and will wait to make his major league debut.
That moment will likely come sometime this season. Whether Craig makes the Cardinals out of spring training or is promoted from during the season is still unclear. This much is known: Craig is so close to making the majors that the bet has already been conceded.
"That's the least I can do for Mike for everything that he's done for me," Craig said.
Position a Question
One question remains.
Where to play him?
Craig is fluent in a multitude of positions -- third base, left field, first base -- but appears stuck behind a prominent big leaguer at each.
He can play first but will not supplant Albert Pujols. His most suited position may be third base, but Craig is behind 26-year-olds David Freese and Tyler Greene on the depth chart. The Cardinals asked Craig to play left field last season in Class AAA but then acquired All-Star Matt Holliday in July via trade.
He was home in Temecula this offseason when he heard the Cardinals signed Holliday to a seven-year deal worth approximately $119. With another roadblock firmly in place, Craig couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"I really don't have too many opinions on it," he said. "There's nothing I can really do about it. I did the best that I could last year and had a good season. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants to do in the game. It's just part of paying your dues. It's just how it goes."
Cardinals vice president of amateur scouting and player development Jeff Luhnow said Craig is one of six or seven players competing for the final three roster spots and will be afforded a chance to win the third baseman's job out of spring training. Even if Craig doesn't win that job, he could make the Cardinals as a reserve outfielder.
Luhnow said Craig already possesses a major-league caliber bat and terrific makeup, and could become a big-league starter if he shows improvement in his defense.
"He's one of those guys, he's going to remember where he came from when he gets to the big leagues and becomes a star," Luhnow said. "He's not going to big-league coaches and people he's had experience with in the past."
Minor League Honor
Although fans in St. Louis were delighted that the Cardinals signed Holliday, there is a growing majority eager for Craig to get his shot. They made that known recently in St. Louis, where Craig sat to sign autographs for two hours next to Albert Pujols.
"People would come up and say, 'I look forward to seeing you up here. Go get that fourth outfield spot.' Everyone was just really supportive," Craig said.
The Cardinals later recognized Craig as their minor league player of the year, during which Craig shared the stage with Pujols, Vince Coleman and Lou Brock.
"I can't even describe it," said his mother, Kim, who joined Craig in St. Louis. "It was almost an out-of-body experience."
The Cardinals opened spring training Thursday in Jupiter, Fla., where Craig will compete for a spot on the opening day 25-man roster.
If he doesn't make the Cardinals out of camp, Craig would certainly begin the year back in Memphis. Either way, he's close -- perhaps closer than he's ever been to becoming a major leaguer.
"It's his dream come true ... hopefully," Kim Craig said. "To me he's already made it. In our eyes he's accomplished a lot."
Reach Michael Becker at mbecker@PE.com
