2025 MLB Draft Room ~ Thread, Mocks, Discussion, Draft Boards

[craviduce]

Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

those were my two favorite players. And I thought Kurtz would be available at #7. I really thought JJ was going 2nd or 4th if didn't go 1 to the Guardians.

There wasn't a scenario that existed once Braden Montgomery broke his ankle to where both Kurtz and JJ would've been available.

To your scenario...what would St. Louis do? The Big 12 scouts in the Org scream louder than the ACC scouts....JJ it is.

Hit and Less K's vs. the Power-hit and More K's.

I would've loved to have Kurtz manning 1B for his career....that would've been awesome.

[TraveledLessRoad]

Yep, if I recall correctly (reading that year's draft thread), I think Kurtz's bat was considered one of the surest bets in the draft. But, the fact that he only played first base, compared to some of the other big bats with more positional flexibility, he was likely going to fall right around 8-10

[craviduce]

I think...and I could be wrong, but it's looking more and more like the 1 and 2 picks in the draft will look like this:

1. Nationals ~ Anderson ....or Holliday
2. Angels ~ Doyle ....what the pundits are hearing is this pick is done. That's the Angels pick.


Nationals could still pick Holliday, maybe Willits, I'm not saying they won't. The trend and the buzz is it's down to a clear 1a / 1b strategy....1a is Anderson, and that's how they're currently leaning...there's still the Holliday crowd in their draft room....Bonus Demands/Signability are a major concern, too

---------------

If the Anderson and Doyle scenario plays out....you have the next 3 teams (M's, Rox, Cards) with a big crowd of 45/50 rated players to choose from....outside note ~ Seth Hernandez is the only one of the bunch, imo, rated 55-60...you can't have arguably the best FB, Curve, Change, and Control in the class and be rated 45/50 just because you're a HS/RHP....that bias is annoying to be honest.

this draft is so weak up top, that it's allowed players such as Irish, Aloy, Parker, Steele to jump into the conversation @ #5....those players are good in their own right, I'm not besmirching them, but they're #20-30 picks in last year's draft...easily. I really like Irish and Parker, I wish we were picking #7 to 15 this year b/c of them.

Again... I'm leaning back on my philosophy from a few weeks ago...."5 that I want, and 5 that I wouldn't be Unhappy with"....that's how bad of a draft it is up top....nothing has changed....and it's the biggest reason I keep Hernandez as my #1 player overall . He's just that much better than everyone else, but he has an unfair taboo tied around his neck.

[TraveledLessRoad]

And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

[craviduce]

And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

I understand that. I accept the Industry Wide bias.

I'm just looking at the overall draft board...and I see a normal 2nd round with Hernandez and Holliday standing above them all. And Hernandez outshining Holliday.

[Adam2]

And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

I understand that. I accept the Industry Wide bias.

I'm just looking at the overall draft board...and I see a normal 2nd round with Hernandez and Holliday standing above them all. And Hernandez outshining Holliday.

I started not wanting a prep arm, then after learning more from this thread and certain sites it was becoming clear there was no real ELITE pick available this year other than potentially Hernandez, so i've come full circle to wanting him. I'm not thrilled with the high floor prospects

[TraveledLessRoad]

And it seems like every mock that's out there has some comment about the Cards not having interest in the prep arm

I understand that. I accept the Industry Wide bias.

I'm just looking at the overall draft board...and I see a normal 2nd round with Hernandez and Holliday standing above them all. And Hernandez outshining Holliday.

Given the nature of what this draft offers near the top, I'd take the flyer on the prep arm. The upside is way too high and there isn't a lot of other prospects that excite me at all (after Holiday). That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's gone before #5

[Shady]

I think...and I could be wrong, but it's looking more and more like the 1 and 2 picks in the draft will look like this:

1. Nationals ~ Anderson ....or Holliday
2. Angels ~ Doyle ....what the pundits are hearing is this pick is done. That's the Angels pick.


Nationals could still pick Holliday, maybe Willits, I'm not saying they won't. The trend and the buzz is it's down to a clear 1a / 1b strategy....1a is Anderson, and that's how they're currently leaning...there's still the Holliday crowd in their draft room....Bonus Demands/Signability are a major concern, too

---------------

If the Anderson and Doyle scenario plays out....you have the next 3 teams (M's, Rox, Cards) with a big crowd of 45/50 rated players to choose from....outside note ~ Seth Hernandez is the only one of the bunch, imo, rated 55-60...you can't have arguably the best FB, Curve, Change, and Control in the class and be rated 45/50 just because you're a HS/RHP....that bias is annoying to be honest.

this draft is so weak up top, that it's allowed players such as Irish, Aloy, Parker, Steele to jump into the conversation @ #5....those players are good in their own right, I'm not besmirching them, but they're #20-30 picks in last year's draft...easily. I really like Irish and Parker, I wish we were picking #7 to 15 this year b/c of them.

Again... I'm leaning back on my philosophy from a few weeks ago...."5 that I want, and 5 that I wouldn't be Unhappy with"....that's how bad of a draft it is up top....nothing has changed....and it's the biggest reason I keep Hernandez as my #1 player overall . He's just that much better than everyone else, but he has an unfair taboo tied around his neck.

How often have the Cardinals had the opportunity to draft a pitcher with true ace potential? That describes Hernandez.

[82birds]

Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

those were my two favorite players. And I thought Kurtz would be available at #7. I really thought JJ was going 2nd or 4th if didn't go 1 to the Guardians.

There wasn't a scenario that existed once Braden Montgomery broke his ankle to where both Kurtz and JJ would've been available.

To your scenario...what would St. Louis do? The Big 12 scouts in the Org scream louder than the ACC scouts....JJ it is.

Hit and Less K's vs. the Power-hit and More K's.

I would've loved to have Kurtz manning 1B for his career....that would've been awesome.

not going to lie. I liked Kurtz and JJ about equally.
what I liked about Kurtz besides his power is he is lefthanded throwing 1bman.
that is a BIG advantage IMO.

of course, thrilled with JJ.

btw, in his rookie season for far, Kurtz:
.256
.317
.835
12 of his 42 hits are HR
32 RBI
acquitting himself quite nicely I would say.

[Futuregm2]

Duce-

This is kind of a strange and hypothetical question, but if Nick Kurtz and JJ Wetherholt were both available at 7 last year (I know Kurtz was taken 4th), do you think the Cards would have taken Kurtz over JJ?

those were my two favorite players. And I thought Kurtz would be available at #7. I really thought JJ was going 2nd or 4th if didn't go 1 to the Guardians.

There wasn't a scenario that existed once Braden Montgomery broke his ankle to where both Kurtz and JJ would've been available.

To your scenario...what would St. Louis do? The Big 12 scouts in the Org scream louder than the ACC scouts....JJ it is.

Hit and Less K's vs. the Power-hit and More K's.

I would've loved to have Kurtz manning 1B for his career....that would've been awesome.

not going to lie. I liked Kurtz and JJ about equally.
what I liked about Kurtz besides his power is he is lefthanded throwing 1bman.
that is a BIG advantage IMO.

of course, thrilled with JJ.

btw, in his rookie season for far, Kurtz:
.256
.317
.835
12 of his 42 hits are HR
32 RBI
acquitting himself quite nicely I would say.

Especially as he’s gotten more experience in the MLB. He’s got a .934 OPS over the last 28 days and 1.085 OPS over the last 14. He’s crushing RHP (.954 OPS) and struggling vs LHP (.504 OPS). But he’s a rookie so that’s understandable.

[TraveledLessRoad]

Yeah, that's why i brought it up (would we have drafted Kurtz over JJ), because Kurtz is already kinda killing it at the MLB level

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Baseball America Mock 5.0

1. Nationals ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Angels ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla.
5. Cardinals ~ Elli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton, Okla

Ethan Holliday falls to the Cardinals....so you're telling me there's a chance!!

[craviduce]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YdkxR3y_bg

Perfect GameUSA's Daron Sutton (Don's son) and Vinnie Cervino with a full Mock Vod. Uploaded last night

Cards ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla.

00

[Shady]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YdkxR3y_bg

Perfect GameUSA's Daron Sutton (Don's son) and Vinnie Cervino with a full Mock Vod. Uploaded last night

Cards ~ Eli Willits, SS, Ft. Cobb-Broxton HS, Okla.

00

Good draft info. Hernandez went #3. If he's there for the Cardinals at #5. It would be a rare opportunity for the kind of top of the rotation starting pitcher they really need for the future. One that could, potentially, blend in well with the other fine young pitchers in the organization. I'm convinced it's essential to have at least three top flight starting pitchers in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.

[craviduce]

New Cards Talk draft poll

thread viewtopic.php?t=1513827

poll https://smartpolls.co.uk/p/131155

[craviduce]

Baseball America Mock 5.0

1. Nationals ~ Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
2. Angels ~ Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
3. Mariners ~ Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon St.
4. Rockies ~ Ethan Holliday, SS/3B, Stillwater HS, Okla.
5. Cardinals ~ Elli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton, Okla

Ethan Holliday falls to the Cardinals....so you're telling me there's a chance!!

anything can happen. I don't think it will happen, but it might. We're in that period where Bonus Demands and Offers are exchanged. We'll see how it unfolds.