"For the second consecutive year, the St. Louis Cardinals will have a hand-picked group of prospects come to spring training early in order to mirror the major-league camp, mix with the major-league camp coaches and get a head start on their prep before minor-league camp opens.

Two of the Cardinals top three prospects, per the Baseball American rankings, have been invited to the pre-camp camp (still looking for a good name): righty Carlos Martinez and outfielder Oscar Taveras.

The other 22 minor-leaguers are a mix of recent additions, sleepers and players on the fringe of the prospect discussion who are about to show whether or not they belong in it.

The Cardinals' early camp allows the minor-leaguers to come to the Jupiter, Fla., complex more than a week early and take part in workouts geared toward getting them individualized attention. Two minor-league coaches are assigned to the camp, but many of the coaches from the majors and minor-league coaches from the major-league camp will spend time with the prospects. The early camp's workouts are held in the afternoon so that they don't conflict with the major-league time, and that allows for some unscheduled visits. Last year, the early camp spent time with manager Tony La Russa, had a session about media requirements at the big-league level, and even a few of the major-league players."