PALM BEACH, Fla. — Mick Fennell received a little extra advice in the batting cage this off-season.

The Butler graduate and St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect spent some time with former Pittsburgh Pirates Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen at an indoor practice facility in Mars this winter. Fennell reported to the Cardinals' spring training facility in Palm Beach March 7.

Fennell's father, former Butler High School baseball coach Jay Fennell, is still involved in youth baseball instruction and has connections with former Pirates trainer Frank Velasquez. The latter still does some training work with ballplayers in the area.

“Mick was doing some work with him and we found out he (Velasquez) was still doing some things with Neil,” Fennell said. “We asked if he could get them together and it wasn't a problem.”

Mick Fennell did some workouts with Walker last off-season and the two got together again this winter.

“We hit it off last year and I loved working out with him,” Mick Fennell said. “I asked him if we could do it again.

“He texted me over this off-season and we did some hitting in Mars. Neil is still buddies with Andrew McCutchen and he showed up a few times, too.

“It was a tremendous experience for me. I learned a lot about hitting from working alongside experienced major leaguers like that. Neil's brother-in-law (former big leaguer Don Kelly) did some pitching to us and that helped, too.”

Fennell said he learned a lot about taking the proper approach when he steps into the batter's box.

“It's more than just trying to hit the ball hard,” he said. “Neil explained how an at-bat is like a chess match vs. the pitcher.

“You learn about a pitcher's percentages, what he's likely to throw when he's ahead in the count, behind in the count ... You can almost eliminate certain pitches if a guy rarely throws that pitch in a given situation.”

Fennell turns 24 in late April. He was a 22nd-round draft choice of the Cardinals in 2016 and is entering his second full season in pro ball.

He was promoted to Class A Peoria (Ill.) of the Midwest League early last season and hit .254 with a home run, 25 RBI and a .254 batting average. He stole five bases in nine attempts.

“I really want to improve myself in stolen bases because speed is a big part of my game,” Fennell said.

When Peoria entered the playoffs last season, Fennell was batting lead-off and playing center field.

The Cardinals' minor leaguers are beginning intra-squad games this week and will soon be playing exhibition games against minor leaguers from the Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals and New York Mets.

“We share a spring training facility with the Marlins and those other teams are a half hour or less away,” Fennell said. “We'll be playing them quite a bit.

“It is important to get the reps at the plate to get ready for the season, but you never want to give away an at-bat. You never know who might be watching you.”

While Fennell hopes to begin the 2018 season with the Palm Beach Cardinals — the organization's high Class A affiliate — he is unsure what plans the Cardinals might have in store.

He just knows he has to be ready for anything.

“I'm just focusing on improving my game in all aspects,” he said.

Fennell admitted he has no control over how fast he progresses through the St. Louis farm system.

“I can only control how well I improve my skills,” he said. “Our first baseman at Peoria last year hit .280 with 16 home runs, but never moved up because the other first basemen in the system were all healthy and playing well.

“Another player wasn't having as good a year, but wound up in Triple-A because of injuries to guys in front of him. I've seen it work both ways.

“You have to stay healthy. You have to have luck on your side. Most of all, you have to perform,” Fennell added.