The Cardinal Nation June update TOP 20

[hugeCardfan]

TCN, I have subscribed to for years which does as good a job as any to keep track of prospects. I especially like their monthly updates which tend to move the prospects around quickly based on both futuristic outlook as well as recent contribution. The top 20 looks like this:

Prospect Tm Position June May Change

JJ Wetherholt Spr SS 1 1
Quinn Mathews Mem LHS 2 2
Michael McGreevy Mem RHS 3 4 plus 1
Jimmy Crooks Mem C 4 5 plus 1
Leonardo Bernal Spr C 5 8 plus 3
Tink Hence Spr RHS 6 3 minus 3
Tekoah Roby Mem RHS 7 6 minus 1
Thomas Saggese StL 2B 8 7 minus 1
Rainiel Rodriguez PB C 9 15 plus 6
Andre Granillo StL RHR 10 21 plus 11
Ixan Henderson Spr LHS 11 13 plus 2
Cooper Hjerpe Spr IL LHS 12 10 minus 2
Joshua Baez Spr OF 13 35 plus 22
Chase Davis Spr OF 14 12 minus 2
Chen Wei-Lin Peo RHS 15 11 minus 4
Gordon Graceffo Mem RHR 16 9 minus 7
Travis Honeyman Peo OF 17 14 minus 3
Yairo Padilla FCL SS 18 33 plus 15
Josh Kross Peo 1B/C 19 27 plus 8
Max Rajcic Spr RHS 20 20

Of note, Tink Hence has dropped from #3 to #6. Acknowledging that Tink has time to redeem himself, the inability to get anything done the first half of 2025 season warrants a backward step.

The big positive story in the new Top 10 is the 2025 emergence of Leonardo Bernal. There is a lot to like about what the 21-year-old switch hitting catcher is accomplishing at Springfield. Bernal jumps three spots, from eighth to fifth this month.

Closing the Top 10 are 18-year-old catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, now with Palm Beach, and new St. Louis reliever Andre Granillo. The latter may be on the list for the last time.

Joshua Baez, who showed both power and speed before and after his June promotion to Springfield. His 22-spot jump to no. 13 is the largest this month, but it hardly new territory for him. For example, upon Baez joining the organization in the second round in 2021, he debuted at no. 9. It was mostly downward since, however, to the point the 21-year-old left the list entirely late last season.

Two other major movers upward in the second 10 are 18-year-old shortstop Yairo Padilla in the Florida Complex League, and slugger Josh Kross, who was recently promoted to High-A Peoria.

I find TCN a really good investment to follow the insight of "scouts" Brian Walton and Blake Newberry. They give a great breakdown of the top 50 players tools.

[Futuregm2]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

[hugeCardfan]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

[An Old Friend]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

But no caution with 18 year old Rainiel Rodriguez

[rockondlouie]

Thx for sharing huge

Man, C. Bloom is going to having some catching trade pieces when he takes over.

[hugeCardfan]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

But no caution with 18 year old Rainiel Rodriguez

He doesn't have Baez' history in the minors yet....

[cardstatman]

Rainiel Rodriguez seems a little too good to be true.

.382 .526 .855 1.381 May
.182 .260 .318 .578 June

I'm sure he will be fine but I think his bat may be his only tool. This limits his ceiling unless he's Babe Ruth.

Maybe should be careful not to overreact to his first 69 PA at age 18. He sure started with a bang though.

[hugeCardfan]

Rainiel Rodriguez seems a little too good to be true.

.382 .526 .855 1.381 May
.182 .260 .318 .578 June

I'm sure he will be fine but I think his bat may be his only tool. This limits his ceiling unless he's Babe Ruth.

Maybe should be careful not to overreact to his first 69 PA at age 18. He sure started with a bang though.

Perhaps. But how you gonna know from an 18 year old playing professional ball? Might be a good time to give him some individual training to see where he fits best and how adaptable he is.

[11WSChamps]

TCN, I have subscribed to for years which does as good a job as any to keep track of prospects. I especially like their monthly updates which tend to move the prospects around quickly based on both futuristic outlook as well as recent contribution. The top 20 looks like this:

Prospect Tm Position June May Change

JJ Wetherholt Spr SS 1 1
Quinn Mathews Mem LHS 2 2
Michael McGreevy Mem RHS 3 4 plus 1
Jimmy Crooks Mem C 4 5 plus 1
Leonardo Bernal Spr C 5 8 plus 3
Tink Hence Spr RHS 6 3 minus 3
Tekoah Roby Mem RHS 7 6 minus 1
Thomas Saggese StL 2B 8 7 minus 1
Rainiel Rodriguez PB C 9 15 plus 6
Andre Granillo StL RHR 10 21 plus 11
Ixan Henderson Spr LHS 11 13 plus 2
Cooper Hjerpe Spr IL LHS 12 10 minus 2
Joshua Baez Spr OF 13 35 plus 22
Chase Davis Spr OF 14 12 minus 2
Chen Wei-Lin Peo RHS 15 11 minus 4
Gordon Graceffo Mem RHR 16 9 minus 7
Travis Honeyman Peo OF 17 14 minus 3
Yairo Padilla FCL SS 18 33 plus 15
Josh Kross Peo 1B/C 19 27 plus 8
Max Rajcic Spr RHS 20 20

Of note, Tink Hence has dropped from #3 to #6. Acknowledging that Tink has time to redeem himself, the inability to get anything done the first half of 2025 season warrants a backward step.

The big positive story in the new Top 10 is the 2025 emergence of Leonardo Bernal. There is a lot to like about what the 21-year-old switch hitting catcher is accomplishing at Springfield. Bernal jumps three spots, from eighth to fifth this month.

Closing the Top 10 are 18-year-old catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, now with Palm Beach, and new St. Louis reliever Andre Granillo. The latter may be on the list for the last time.

Joshua Baez, who showed both power and speed before and after his June promotion to Springfield. His 22-spot jump to no. 13 is the largest this month, but it hardly new territory for him. For example, upon Baez joining the organization in the second round in 2021, he debuted at no. 9. It was mostly downward since, however, to the point the 21-year-old left the list entirely late last season.

Two other major movers upward in the second 10 are 18-year-old shortstop Yairo Padilla in the Florida Complex League, and slugger Josh Kross, who was recently promoted to High-A Peoria.

I find TCN a really good investment to follow the insight of "scouts" Brian Walton and Blake Newberry. They give a great breakdown of the top 50 players tools.

Thanks for sharing that.

[An Old Friend]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

But no caution with 18 year old Rainiel Rodriguez

He doesn't have Baez' history in the minors yet....

Yeah… I just think a lot of these guys ranking prospects are pushing young guys up on their boards for one of two reasons:
1. They want to be first / highest on a guy who hasn’t hit that high on others’ radars

Or…

2. They convince themselves of something that isn’t really there, yet.

[Futuregm2]

Rainiel Rodriguez seems a little too good to be true.

.382 .526 .855 1.381 May
.182 .260 .318 .578 June

I'm sure he will be fine but I think his bat may be his only tool. This limits his ceiling unless he's Babe Ruth.

Maybe should be careful not to overreact to his first 69 PA at age 18. He sure started with a bang though.

OPS is now at .643 for June after yesterday. He’s 4 for his last 9 over the last 3 games with 5 walks to 1 K in 15 PA. Hoping he’s snapping out of his funk.

[hugeCardfan]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

But no caution with 18 year old Rainiel Rodriguez

He doesn't have Baez' history in the minors yet....

Yeah… I just think a lot of these guys ranking prospects are pushing young guys up on their boards for one of two reasons:
1. They want to be first / highest on a guy who hasn’t hit that high on others’ radars

Or…

2. They convince themselves of something that isn’t really there, yet.

It’s a whole lotta guess work for the young guys. Notice that Baez was 9th shortly after being picked. He fell off the board before his resurgence.

[An Old Friend]

Granillo ahead of Baez?

I think that's a closeness to his ML potential vs long term potential worth. Baez has been on a roller coaster the past 3 years. I'd forgive them for a little caution.

But no caution with 18 year old Rainiel Rodriguez

He doesn't have Baez' history in the minors yet....

Yeah… I just think a lot of these guys ranking prospects are pushing young guys up on their boards for one of two reasons:
1. They want to be first / highest on a guy who hasn’t hit that high on others’ radars

Or…

2. They convince themselves of something that isn’t really there, yet.

It’s a whole lotta guess work for the young guys. Notice that Baez was 9th shortly after being picked. He fell off the board before his resurgence.

Right... so probably a mix of 1 and 2. They decide the newest kid must be the bestest prospect.