2024 draft - some others besides JJ

[82birds]

interesting and informative read, at least to me:

https://redbirdrants.com/checking-in-on ... ft-picks/3

[82birds]

bump
nobody else found this interesting?

[An Old Friend]

bump
nobody else found this interesting?

Maybe highlight a few that you found intriguing and grab some quotes.

[82birds]

bump
nobody else found this interesting?

Maybe highlight a few that you found intriguing and grab some quotes.

or you could click on the link and read the whole story.
takes 5 minutes or less to read.

[Ozziesfan41]

bump
nobody else found this interesting?

Maybe highlight a few that you found intriguing and grab some quotes.

or you could click on the link and read the whole story.
takes 5 minutes or less to read.

lol

[redbird1.2.3.4]

The St. Louis Cardinals had a bit of MLB draft luck the past two seasons and look to take advantage of that lottery luck in the upcoming amateur draft. Last season, they were handed the seventh overall pick and made out like bandits when JJ Wetherholt fell to them in that slot. Before the draft, the infielder from West Virginia was seen going anywhere in the top five in early mocks, but he had a hamstring injury that limited him to mostly DH in his final season at WVU.

The Cardinals were convinced that the injury would not be a long-term issue and selected him seventh. After Wetherholt had a solid short-season stint with Single-A Palm Beach, the Cardinals invited him to big league camp, where he performed well but never really had a shot at the big league squad. The organization stayed aggressive with him and moved to Double-A Springfield, where he has continued to perform. Through 32 games, Wetherholt is hitting .284 with more walks (18) than strikeouts (17) and has popped 12 extra-base hits while adding six stolen bases. This is the performance expected by the team's top prospect (and 20th ranked overall), and he continues to look ready to push up the organization ladder quickly.

The MLB draft is never a sure thing, but the Cardinals looked to have a solid showing in the 2024 selection process. They will have another opportunity to make a splash for some high-level talent when they draft fifth this year. Beyond Wetherholt, there are plenty of guys who have successfully adjusted to the lower levels of the minor leagues and look to be ready to outperform their draft slot.

The Cardinals have plenty of talent from the 2024 draft progressing through the minors
Ryan Campos, C (Round 4)
Coming out of college, Arizona State catcher Ryan Campos was a two-time Collegiate Catcher of the Year semifinalist after showing great offensive tools with plenty of plate discipline, but he showed he needs more seasoning if he wants to stick behind the plate. Campos is a lefty-hitting catcher, but at 5'8, he is not the huge target pitchers love to throw to and does not have much projection in terms of power.

However, Campos has taken to the professional game well. He received a small sample of A-ball after the draft and struck out as much as he walked while hitting .319 as a 21-year-old. While the batting average is not where it was last season, Campos has progressed well at the A+ level. He is continuing to put together good at-bats, drawing 23 walks against 27 strikeouts in 141 plate appearances. The power is coming along slowly, with six extra-base hits, including his first professional home run. Surprisingly, he has also logged six stolen bases.

Defensively, Campos is performing about average. In his two professional seasons, he has thrown out 15 baserunners at a 21% clip but has five errors and two passed balls in 46 pro games.

[redbird1.2.3.4]

Up Next - MLB Final Weekend Recap: Houston Astros win the AL West, Cubs & Mariners collapse | Flippin' Bats

Checking in on under-the-radar 2024 Cardinals draft picks
JJ Wetherholt has been getting plenty of attention as the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2024, but they have plenty of other draft picks making their way through the minor leagues.
By
Scott Plaza
|
6 hours ago

St. Louis Cardinals v Memphis Redbirds
St. Louis Cardinals v Memphis Redbirds | Justin Ford/GettyImages
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Standouts from Rounds 12-18
Ian Petrutz, OF (Round 12)
Outfielder Ian Petrutz has been following along with Gazdar since being selected one round after the infielder. Petrutz, though, is having an even better run at it since his promotion to Peoria. The lefty outfielder had a great all-around showing in his 2024 debut season, hitting .344 with a .915 OPS, which earned him the bump up to High-A in 2025.

He continued right where he left off, putting up an .872 OPS with his first two professional homers to go along with eight doubles and a triple while tallying equal numbers of walks and strikeouts. The majority of that offensive production has come this month, as the 22-year-old has hit .313 with 10 walks this month, with eight of his 11 extra-base hits coming in May.

An interesting stat on Petrutz, though, is that after stealing five bases in 28 games last year, he only has one stolen base and has been caught an astonishing six times so far this year. It will be interesting to follow and see if Petrutz's baserunning can improve or at least see if more information is provided for how he has been caught so frequently this year.

Nolan Sparks, RHP (Round 13)
After putting together a solid four-year career at the University of Rochester, righty Nolan Sparks was selected by the Cardinals in the 13th round in 2024 and sent to Single-A to get his feet wet. Sparks worked as a starter for the majority of his college career, but the Cardinals opted to throw him in the bullpen with Palm Beach, and Sparks saw instant success.

The foray into pro ball went as well as anticipated for the righty when he went 3-0 with a hold and a save in 10 appearances out of the pen. Despite that success, the Cardinals wanted to tap back into the starter potential with Sparks, and he has pitched in eight games, including four starts, with Palm Beach so far this year. Even while he was working out of the bullpen in 2025, he was still filling three-plus innings each appearance, and his workload has steadily increased to at least five innings in his past two starts.

For the season, Sparks has thrown 31.2 innings and struck out 38 hitters while putting up a 3.69 ERA. His peripheral stats are nearly identical to his performance in 2024. In order to progress to the next level, Sparks may have to show some increased command after putting up at least 4.1 BB/9 since turning pro.

Mason Burns, RHP (Round 14)
Western Kentucky single-season saves holder Mason Burns was drafted in the 14th round after saving 15 games in 2024 while striking out 52 batters in 35 innings. After his selection, Burns spent the remainder of the 2024 season training with the team but did not tally an official inning pitched.

He has continued to fill the reliever role he had at WKU since debuting with Palm Beach in 2025 and has a hold and a save in 12 games pitched. In the 16.1 innings covered in those appearances, Burns has kept up the strikeout numbers, setting down 25 hitters on strikes, but his 13 walks show he has some command issues to work on. Seven of those 13 walks have come in his last 3.2 innings, which has contributed to his ERA increasing from 0.87 in April to 10.50 in May.

Brandt Thompson, RHP (Round 17)
Like Burns before him, Thompson also had to wait until 2025 to make his professional debut after being selected out of Missouri State University in the 17th round. For the Bears, Thompson was named Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back seasons while throwing 162 career innings and is ninth in school history with a 3.24 K/BB rate in 33 starts.

All but one of Thompson's professional appearances have come as a starter, although his most recent outing was a six-inning relief appearance. As a pro, Thompson is 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA but has continued to show his plus command, with 30 strikeouts against only five walks in 36.1 innings. Thompson does give up plenty of hits, but his ability to limit free passes prevents big innings.

Christian Martin, 2B (Round 18)
The Cardinals selected contact-oriented infielder Christian Martin in the 18th round after the left-handed hitter put up consecutive seasons with an above-.900 OPS and 30 or more walks each year. The organization sent him to Palm Beach for his debut, and he kept that same approach in Single-A, when he drew 24 walks and only struck out 13 times in 23 games. Although he only hit .206, Martin was still able to reach base at a .432 clip.

He has progressed more as a hitter in 2025 and has been less patient at the plate but has still drawn walks 10.9% of the time through 38 games. Even with swinging at more pitches, he has kept a consistent strikeout rate and seen more power, hitting seven doubles and a triple. Martin will most likely not progress into a power-hitting infielder, but he has already swiped 16 bases in his 61 career games and has only been caught three times. He has struggled a bit as a second baseman and has started to get some time in the outfield, receiving four starts in left field.

[butsir01]

Thanks, Redbird, very informative.

[An Old Friend]

bump
nobody else found this interesting?

Maybe highlight a few that you found intriguing and grab some quotes.

or you could click on the link and read the whole story.
takes 5 minutes or less to read.

I’m saying maybe people would be inclined to read it and participate in your thread if you highlighted a couple of things you found interesting.

If you don’t want feedback as to why no one said anything, don’t ask for it.

[CNYFan]

I like Pertrutz but am not high on Campos.

Josh Kross is streaky but if he is hitting it is a productive streak.

I think Sparks needs to go back to the bullpen.

Davis and Thompson have been good but not great.

I would like a progress report on the two injured pitchers they selected (Vandy and ND) who hadn't pitched and fell way down the board as a result.

I am not sure if Pertrutz is injured he was pulled last weekend after his first at bat of the game (HR).