Eldred helps Cardinals prospects on, off the field

CEDAR RAPIDS - Before he drove home late Tuesday night, Cal Eldred spent time in the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center.

It's not what you think. The former longtime major league pitcher, who lives with his wife and five children in rural Cedar Rapids, was with Peoria Chiefs player Jake Gronsky.

The infielder was hit by a pitch in Peoria's game against the Cedar Rapids Kernels and suffered a broken hand. Eldred was there to console and comfort Gronsky as best he could, part of his duties as 'Life Skills Coach” for the parent St. Louis Cardinals.

'Look, it's hard to be a kid. It's hard to do this,” Eldred said, before Peoria's 7-5 win Wednesday night over the Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 'A lot of people are probably thinking ‘Aw, wah, these ballplayers.' But these kids aren't making any money, they're on bus rides, they're away from their families. Most of these kids are 18 to 23 years old, and it can be tough on them. So that's what I'm trying to do, help them anyway I can.”

Eldred has been a special assistant to Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak since 2008, but added Life Skills Coach to his title this season. He travels throughout the St. Louis farm system during the season (from Rookie ball to Triple-A), helping tutor pitchers and giving 'talks” to teams.

He said the first talk was about the history of the Cardinals organization, so players know more about their employer and what is expected of them. Another talk was on routines.

'Then basically I am available to these kids whenever,” said Eldred, who pitched 14 MLB seasons, retiring in 2005. 'They have a way to contact me. There may be some things that they want to share with me that they don't want shared with our front office. It's not like you are hiding things, it's just sometimes things in life are tough to handle. That's hopefully where I can help.

'I tell the kids that I definitely do not have all the answers. You can ask my wife and kids about that. But chances are that if it's something that has gone on in this game, I know someone who can help you out. So that's kind of the idea.”

The Kernels (72-56, 31-27) lost the rubber game of this three-game series, with Peoria scoring three times each in the fourth and fifth innings. Sam Clay (0-3) was promoted back to Cedar Rapids from Rookie-level Elizabethton earlier Wednesday and got the start and the loss.

Ethan Mildren was promoted from the Kernels to high-A Fort Myers. Harrison Bader, the Cardinals' third-round draft pick this year, went 4-for-4 with a pair of triples for Peoria.

The Kernels host Kane County for three games, beginning Thursday night at 6:35.

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