Top 50 graphic design by Michael Packard, @CollectingPack on Twitter

St. Louis Cardinals

NL Central
2025 record: 78-84 (4th)

MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Memphis Redbirds
Double-A: Springfield Cardinals
High-A: Peoria Chiefs
Single-A: Palm Beach Cardinals

2025 End-Of-Season farm system rank: Tied for #11
Jeremy Mahy’s organization take from our 2025 End-Of-Season Farm System Rankings:
Whether you call it a “rebuild” or a “reset”, the time is now for the Cardinals to go with the kids. The middle of the field could be set with Wetherholt and Winn on the dirt and Victor Scott in center. Blaze Jordan has hit well since coming over and Joshua Baez had one heck of a resurgence in 2025. On the mound Doyle, Mathews and Hence are all about ready. Like it or not Cards fans, it is time.

2026 International Signing: Emanuel Luna, OF (Dominican Republic) $2.3M. Not included in the Top 50 rankings below. Would likely be slotted in Tier 5 and should show up in our next Cardinals prospects update.

Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.

Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact

Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2025

Tier 1

1. JJ Wetherholt, SS, 23, Triple-A
Wetherholt has exceptional contact skills and plus speed. His foot speed is just average, but he is very instinctual and efficient on the base paths and could provide 20+ stolen bases annually. At the dish, he is walking more than he strikes out, has excellent discipline and elite in-zone contact rates. He produces above-average exit velocities, which should lead to double digit home run totals annually with lots of doubles on top of that. This all adds up to an MLB ready top-of-the-lineup producer. Thanks to the Cardinals offseason moves the door is wide open for Wetherholt to grab the job this spring and run with it. (@JMahyfam)

Tier 2

2. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, 19, High-A
There’s a lot to be excited about with Rodriguez, who debuted in 2024 but played across three levels in 2025 and definitely impressed. He’s primarily catching, which increases his dynasty value, and his .954 OPS last year is opened a lot of eyes. After destroying Complex League pitching in 20 games, he moved up to Single-A for 60 games, hit 13 homers, and then the organization gave him four games at High-A to end his season. Rodriguez will look to continue his ascension in the Cardinals system in Peoria, and potentially Springfield, in 2026. (@Scotty_Ballgame)

3. Liam Doyle, LHP, 21, Double-A
Doyle is an explosive left-hander whose profile is built around a truly special fastball that can dominate at the highest level. He works from the third-base side with a high-effort, high-intensity delivery, sitting 94–96 and reaching 98 with elite ride and run that give the pitch genuine bat-missing life at the top of the zone. The secondaries flash behind it, with a splitter-style changeup that shows real fade and depth when he stays on top of it, along with a sweeping slider and a firm cutter that give him multiple looks to keep hitters off balance. The delivery can get busy and violent, leading to bouts of inconsistent command and some lingering reliever risk, but the arm speed is electric and he generally competes in the zone. If the command continues to stabilize and the changeup remains a reliable weapon, Doyle projects as a high-strikeout mid-rotation starter with the fastball to play even higher, with a fallback as a late-inning lefty where the heater could be truly dominant. (@ShaunKernahan)

Tier 3

4. Joshua Baez, OF, 22, Double-A
5. Quinn Mathews, LHP, 25, Triple-A
6. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, 22, Double-A
7. Brandon Clarke, LHP, 22, High-A
8. Yairo Padilla, SS, 18, Rookie (FCL)
9. Leonardo Bernal, C, 21, Double-A

Doesn’t it seem like Baez has been around forever? The now 22-year-old was drafted out of high school in the 2nd round back in 2021. He’s looking to follow up a very solid 2025 season in which he slashed .287/.384/.500/.884, with 20 HR, 79 RBI and 54 SB across High/Double-A. Mathews, the Cardinals’ MiLB Pitcher of the Year in 2024, took a slight step backwards in 2025, mainly because his WHIP went from 0.98 to 1.55. He still put up a solid campaign (22 starts) at Triple-A Memphis and is hopeful of getting the MLB call-up at some point in 2026. The switch pitching Cijntje was told to focus on pitching from the right side, but then he was traded to the Cardinals. Chaim Bloom recently indicated that he could be used as a right-handed starter and a left-handed reliever with St. Louis. It’ll be interesting to see where the 2025 draftee is assigned this spring after seeing action in High/Double-A in his debut season. Clarke comes over from the Red Sox where he had high expectations but struggled with command last year. Brilliant in three starts for Salem, he walked more than you want to see in High-A (1.41 WHIP) but still put up an exceptional 14.2 K/9. Padilla had decent helium for dynasty leaguers heading into 2025 coming off his Dominican Summer League 2024 debut, and followed that up with a similar and good 2025 in the Cardinals rookie complex league. Bernal spent all of 2025 at Double-A Springfield and is projected to be sharing catching duties in Memphis with Crooks to begin this season. (@Scotty_Ballgame)

Tier 4

10. Jesus Baez, SS/3B, 20, High-A
11. Tai Peete, OF, 20, High-A
12. Ixan Henderson, LHP, 24, Double-A
13. Jimmy Crooks, C, 24, MLB
14. Tink Hence, RHP, 23, Double-A
15. Tekoah Roby, RHP, 24, Triple-A
16. Ryan Mitchell, OF, 19, High school
17. Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, 19, Single-A
18. Nathan Church, OF, 25, MLB
19. Tanner Franklin, RHP, 21, High-A
20. Deniel Ortiz, 3B/1B, 21, High-A

Baez is a free swinger that has serious bat speed. He currently is making good contact, but as he faces better pitching his approach might get tested. Peete, acquired in the Donovan trade, has solid bat speed and enough athleticism to provide a foundation for future growth. The development of his raw hit tool will be the key. Henderson put together a strong season in Double-A last year in the hitter friendly Texas League, posting a 2.59 ERA with 134 strikeouts to only 51 walks. Crooks has hit at every stop of the minors and will likely compete for the backup catcher position this spring. Hence has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system but his durability is starting to become a concern. On the topic of durability, Roby possesses a strong enough arsenal to project as a mid-rotation pitcher, but will miss all of 2026 recovering from TJ surgery. Mitchell, the Cardinals’ second-round pick last July, is athletic and has the chance to have plus power as he develops. Fajardo, acquired from the Red Sox in the Contreras trade, has three potentially plus pitches and has shown advanced control for his age. Powered by elite contact skills, Church started last season in High-A and finished it in the majors. While he might never be a star, good teams need a guy like this on their roster. Franklin, the Cardinals third round selection last July, lights up radar guns with triple-digit velocity. A reliever at Tennessee, there are rumors that the Cardinals might try him as a starter. Ortiz, a late round draft pick in 2024 from the Junior College ranks, is a solid-framed corner infielder showing solid plate discipline and solid contact numbers. Does that profile sound familiar? (@JMahyfam)

Tier 5

21. Brycen Mautz, LHP, 24, Double-A
22. Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, 24, Double-A
23. Colton Ledbetter, OF, 24, Double-A
23. Braden Davis, LHP, 22, High-A
24. Chase Davis, OF, 24, Double-A
25. Sebastian Dos Santos, SS/2B, 18, Rookie (DSL)
26. Chen-Wei Lin, RHP, 24, Double-A
27. Nate Dohm, RHP, 23, College
28. Blaze Jordan, 3B/1B, 23, Triple-A
29. Jack Gurevitch, 1B, 21, Single-A
30. Cade Crossland, LHP, 22, College
31. Sem Robberse, RHP, 24, Triple-A
32. Hancel Rincon, RHP, 23, Double-A
33. Mason Molina, LHP, 22, High-A
34. Blake Aita, RHP, 22, High-A
35. Luis Gastelum, RHP, 24, Double-A
36. Zach Levenson, OF, 23, Double-A
37. Kenly Hunter, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)
38. Cade McGee, 3B/2B, 23, Single-A
39. Max Rajcic, RHP, 24, Triple-A
40. Frank Elissalt, RHP, 23, High-A
41. Bryan Torres, OF/2B, 28, Triple-A
42. Brian Holiday, RHP, 22, Injured (College in 2024)
43. César Prieto, 2B, 26, MLB
44. Leonel Sequera, RHP, 20, Single-A
45. Travis Honeyman, OF, 24, High-A
46. Matthew Miura, OF, 22, Single-A
47. Kaden Echeman, RHP, 23, College
48. Jacob Odle, RHP, 22, Single-A
49. Ethan Young, RHP, 22, College
50. Reiner Lopez, RHP, 19, Rookie (DSL)

Tier 5 starts off with three southpaws. Mautz won’t overpower hitter but his horizontal movement coming out of a three-quarters arm slot and strike throwing ability make him effective. Much like Mautz, Hjerpe doesn’t have premium velocity, but his changeup and slider are both plus pitches. Braden Davis is not like the previous two lefties; he does have the velocity to produce high strikeout totals but has struggled with control at times. Dos Santos tore through the DSL last year posting a 1.022 OPS and walking more than he struck out. Lin’s fastball/changeup combo is electric, but he has really struggled to throw strikes. Dohm has a solid fastball and change-up but might need to develop a viable third pitch to remain a starter. McGee made strides in his second season with the organization displaying moderate power and a bit of speed while playing the hot corner. Sequera leans on a sinker-changeup combination to limit hard contact and generate a lot of groundballs, if he can keep the walks down against more advanced bats, he could be interesting. Miura, the Cardinals sixth round pick from the University of Hawaii, has top-of-the-order potential thanks to his strong plate discipline and solid contact ability. (@JMahyfam)

Author


Prospects1500 is your comprehensive dynasty league resource, featuring deep MLB/MiLB top prospect lists, news and rankings.


Greg covers the Toronto Blue Jays organization for Prospects1500. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, a long-suffering fan of both the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. For more than 15 years now a participant/commish in many dynasty baseball leagues, all with extremely deep minor league rosters. Follow on X @gregbracken07.


President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.


Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.

“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” -Yogi Berra


Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.