Kolten Wong Is Already Making a Case to Be Cardinals' Second Baseman in 2013

Ever since the St.Louis Cardinals selected him in the first round of the 2011 MLB player draft, Kolten Wong has been one of the team's most talked-about prospects.  

Last week, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak openly admitted that Wong will be in the mix for the second base position next spring.  

Wong is not waiting until the spring to make his case. He is doing so now. 

Wong was selected to the Rising Stars game of the Arizona Fall League earlier this week and is making an impression with his bat, hitting .317 with a home run, 10 RBI and three stolen bases in 14 games played in Arizona.  

By all accounts, Wong's bat is accompanied by a plus glove in the field and good speed on the basepaths. Wong stole 21 bases this season for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals.

Wong has shown that he can hit everywhere he goes and is capable defensively at the second base position.  

Many feel that Wong could use more seasoning in the minor leagues and could benefit from some time at Triple-A Memphis. But in a way, it feels as though the second base job is Wong's to lose next spring.

Wong will likely compete for the job with a myriad of others, including Daniel Descalso, Skip Schumaker and Matt Carpenter, who has been told to work out at second base during the offseason. 

If Wong can show up at spring training ready to win a job and hit the way he has during his short professional career, he very likely could not only be the Cardinals' second baseman of the future, but the organization's second baseman in 2013 as well.