Baseball America's Top 10 Cards prospects

[ClassicO]

No surprises. Brief for most and full analysis at the bottom for Raniel Rodriguez.

1. JJ Wetherholt SS - The Future: Wetherholt will likely break camp with the Cardinals to begin 2026 and could be the long-term answer at multiple positions on the infield. He’s a star in the making and the best hitter the Cardinals have produced in a decade.

2. Liam Doyle LHP - The Future: Doyle is a fast-moving college lefthander who could pitch his way to the middle of the Cardinals’ rotation by mid 2026.

3. Rainiel Rodriguez C - see below

4. Joshua Baez OF - The Future: Baez broke out in a major way in 2025 and looks like he could debut for the Cardinals in 2026. He’s a potential above-average regular with the potential for 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

5. Quinn Mathews LHP - The Future: The 2025 season is one Mathews would like to forget. Despite the struggles, he looks like a viable long-term No. 4 starter who could reach St. Louis as soon as 2026.

6. Tanner Franklin RHP - The Future: The Cardinals plan to deploy Franklin as a starter in 2026. Equipped with plus stuff and improved command, he could successfully make the jump into the rotation.

7. Ixan Henderson LHP - The Future: Henderson looks like a soon-to-the-majors No. 5 starter with limited upside. The 2026 season and his first taste of Triple-A will be a test of his fastball quality.

8. Jimmy Crooks C

9. Leonardo Bernal C

10. Yairo Padilla SS - The Future: Padilla is a player with a lot of variance. He could be an everyday shortstop, but it’s going to take years to gel. He should make his full-season debut in 2026.


Raniel Rodriguez.
BA Grade/Risk: 60/Average

Adjusted Grade: 50

Track Record: Born in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez’s family moved to Philadelphia when he was entering fifth grade. After playing baseball in the U.S. through his freshman year of high school, he moved back to the D.R. at age 16. He signed with the Cardinals in April 2024 for $300,000 and debuted in the Dominican Summer League two months later. After hitting .345/.462/.683 and being named a DSL all-star, Rodriguez came stateside in 2025. He played at three levels, starting in the Florida Complex, reaching Low-A Palm Beach in June and High-A Peoria in September. He hit .276/.399/.555 with 20 home runs in 84 games.

Scouting Report: Since stepping foot on a professional baseball field, Rodriguez has displayed a blend of advanced plate skills, plus-plus raw power and elite batted-ball angles. His knack for finding the barrel is his defining skill. He shows the ability to consistently drive the ball in the air. Rodriguez’s contact skills and swing decisions are above-average for age and level, and he does a good job limiting strikeouts and getting on base. While the plate skills are impressive Rodriguez’s plus-plus raw power is his loudest tool. He consistently gets to it in games by running high barrel and pulled-air rates. Rodriguez is an optimized hitter with strong underlying skills, power and launch. Behind the plate, he is more of a work in progress. He has a plus arm and does a good job of controlling the running game but is a below-average blocker and receiver. He has a good chance to stick behind the plate and could make large strides as a receiver and framer in the coming years.

The Future: Rodriguez is one of the highest upside prospects in the game. If it all clicks, he could be an all-star-level bat with average catcher defense.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 65 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60.

[mattmitchl44]

If the Cardinals can see Wetherholt, Rodriguez, and Baez mature into above average to All-Star caliber position players, see Doyle mature into at least a #2 SP, and have Mathews, Franklin, or both mature into #3 SPs, and add them to Winn, Herrera, Burleson, Liberatore, etc. - then they would have a core of young, talented players worth adding to to try to "win now."

[AZ_Cardsfan]

If the Cardinals can see Wetherholt, Rodriguez, and Baez mature into above average to All-Star caliber position players, see Doyle mature into at least a #2 SP, and have Mathews, Franklin, or both mature into #3 SPs, and add them to Winn, Herrera, Burleson, Liberatore, etc. - then they would have a core of young, talented players worth adding to to try to "win now."

That is the hope and goal. And deals made this winter trading off Donovan and perhaps with cash getting prospects back for NA and Gray and develop a core that can be bolstered by opening the pocketbooks when they arrive. I confess I don't know how to calculate if a farm is viable or not but it FEELS like this is a deeper class of talent and the will and development of their skills is there.

I know some here still think they can build a contender buying free agents. I am not one. I believe the core of the team has to be homegrown in this financial market to be competitive on a regular basis. But I also believe the fans will flock back to a solid team AND will justify buying a premiere free agent or two at that time.

[mattmitchl44]

If the Cardinals can see Wetherholt, Rodriguez, and Baez mature into above average to All-Star caliber position players, see Doyle mature into at least a #2 SP, and have Mathews, Franklin, or both mature into #3 SPs, and add them to Winn, Herrera, Burleson, Liberatore, etc. - then they would have a core of young, talented players worth adding to to try to "win now."

That is the hope and goal. And deals made this winter trading off Donovan and perhaps with cash getting prospects back for NA and Gray and develop a core that can be bolstered by opening the pocketbooks when they arrive. I confess I don't know how to calculate if a farm is viable or not but it FEELS like this is a deeper class of talent and the will and development of their skills is there.

I know some here still think they can build a contender buying free agents. I am not one. I believe the core of the team has to be homegrown in this financial market to be competitive on a regular basis. But I also believe the fans will flock back to a solid team AND will justify buying a premiere free agent or two at that time.

Yeah, you obviously can't for a $170 to $180 million payroll.

You need ~42 WAR to have a 90-win talent team.

If you spend $140 million on full market cost veterans, that should buy you about 14-17 WAR.

So your remaining $30-$40 million spread over ARB and pre-ARB players, most of whom you will have developed, has to get you 25-28 WAR.

So maybe about 1/3 of your talent from full market cost veterans vs. 2/3 of your talent from ARB and pre-ARB cost controlled young players.

[ClassicO]

If the Cardinals can see Wetherholt, Rodriguez, and Baez mature into above average to All-Star caliber position players, see Doyle mature into at least a #2 SP, and have Mathews, Franklin, or both mature into #3 SPs, and add them to Winn, Herrera, Burleson, Liberatore, etc. - then they would have a core of young, talented players worth adding to to try to "win now."

That is the hope and goal. And deals made this winter trading off Donovan and perhaps with cash getting prospects back for NA and Gray and develop a core that can be bolstered by opening the pocketbooks when they arrive. I confess I don't know how to calculate if a farm is viable or not but it FEELS like this is a deeper class of talent and the will and development of their skills is there.

I know some here still think they can build a contender buying free agents. I am not one. I believe the core of the team has to be homegrown in this financial market to be competitive on a regular basis. But I also believe the fans will flock back to a solid team AND will justify buying a premiere free agent or two at that time.

Yeah, you obviously can't for a $170 to $180 million payroll.

You need ~42 WAR to have a 90-win talent team.

If you spend $140 million on full market cost veterans, that should buy you about 14-17 WAR.

So your remaining $30-$40 million spread over ARB and pre-ARB players, most of whom you will have developed, has to get you 25-28 WAR.

So maybe about 1/3 of your talent from full market cost veterans vs. 2/3 of your talent from ARB and pre-ARB cost controlled young players.

I've always liked your formula for building a WS team. As we've noted elsewhere, the team has to get to the stage where the 2/3 of players developed from within are productive before they start spending money on the 1/3 FA veterans.
And I'm not sure why any tier-1 FA worth a darn would come here unless they have that young core.

[Melville]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

[craviduce]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

Bernal isn't "sandwiched" from above and below. He's the best...and I'll emphasize THE BEST receiver and arm in the system. His bat will eventually play...Yadi wasn't good on offense for a long time...yes, I made the comparison.

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

[Melville]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

Bernal isn't "sandwiched" from above and below. He's the best...and I'll emphasize THE BEST receiver and arm in the system. His bat will eventually play...Yadi wasn't good on offense for a long time...yes, I made the comparison.

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

I am the only person to date who has correctly advised trading Mathews.
Been saying that for 3 months now.
Zero question that, at the minor league level, Bernal and Mathews are the two pieces Bloom should trade this off-season (along with those at the MLB level I have previously identified).
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.
Hopefully, Bloom is smart enough to understand that.
We shall soon see.......

[craviduce]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

Bernal isn't "sandwiched" from above and below. He's the best...and I'll emphasize THE BEST receiver and arm in the system. His bat will eventually play...Yadi wasn't good on offense for a long time...yes, I made the comparison.

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

I am the only person to date who has correctly advised trading Mathews.
Been saying that for 3 months now.
Zero question that, at the minor league level, Bernal and Mathews are the two pieces Bloom should trade this off-season (along with those at the MLB level I have previously identified).
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.
Hopefully, Bloom is smart enough to understand that.
We shall soon see.......

presumptuous that trading Mathews is "correct"....but you be you. You do it well.

Trading Bernal is "incorrect"...because of the exact reasons I stated. He's the one that needs to be in AAA receiving Henderson, Mautz (if he's protected), Hansen (if he's protected), Rajcic (praying he can be fixed, but I doubt it...his fastball sucks), Mathews (if he's still in AAA), etc...you can't let Bernal go...he's too valuable to the Org. Dumb move, forgive the harshness in that 2 word comment, but it's a dumb move.

Catcher depth is fine as is...trading from that depth should take place next winter....outside chance on this Trade Deadline if things have moved along at a rapid pace...but so many factors would have to fall into place, highly unlikely.

LHP is your trade area....we risk losing several pieces on the 18th of November if they aren't mass protected....trade from that depth.

[Banner29]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

Bernal isn't "sandwiched" from above and below. He's the best...and I'll emphasize THE BEST receiver and arm in the system. His bat will eventually play...Yadi wasn't good on offense for a long time...yes, I made the comparison.

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

I am the only person to date who has correctly advised trading Mathews.
Been saying that for 3 months now.
Zero question that, at the minor league level, Bernal and Mathews are the two pieces Bloom should trade this off-season (along with those at the MLB level I have previously identified).
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.
Hopefully, Bloom is smart enough to understand that.
We shall soon see.......

presumptuous that trading Mathews is "correct"....but you be you. You do it well.

Trading Bernal is "incorrect"...because of the exact reasons I stated. He's the one that needs to be in AAA receiving Henderson, Mautz (if he's protected), Hansen (if he's protected), Rajcic (praying he can be fixed, but I doubt it...his fastball sucks), Mathews (if he's still in AAA), etc...you can't let Bernal go...he's too valuable to the Org. Dumb move, forgive the harshness in that 2 word comment, but it's a dumb move.

Catcher depth is fine as is...trading from that depth should take place next winter....outside chance on this Trade Deadline if things have moved along at a rapid pace...but so many factors would have to fall into place, highly unlikely.

LHP is your trade area....we risk losing several pieces on the 18th of November if they aren't mass protected....trade from that depth.

And if Rainel becomes as good as he’s trending towards with the bat you find him a new position with less wear and tear where he plays 150+ games

Agree. Dumb to trade Bernal.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I'm obviously pretty excited about JJ and Doyle, but I am also getting pretty excited about Joshua Baez. I am really hoping he will continue from his breakthrough performance last year. Would be great if he did and was able to come up and make an impact at some point this year. He would solve a lot of problems.

And if course there's Rodriguez. I'll have to be a little patient, but if he's everything he has the potential to be, we've got a big star.

Matt said it earlier, but a lineup featuring Wetherholt, Baez, and Rodriguez would be a hell of a lineup to build around. Even with waiting a few years for Rodriguez, Wetherholt, Baez, Herrera, and Burleson/Contreras is a solid four. And what if Walker and/or Gorman finally get it together? Winn is an average hitter too. That's a good lineup, and one that could make a real impact sooner than later.

The rotation may take a bit longer, but we'll see what we can get in trade this offseason that could help get it going quicker.

[craviduce]

I'm obviously pretty excited about JJ and Doyle, but I am also getting pretty excited about Joshua Baez. I am really hoping he will continue from his breakthrough performance last year. Would be great if he did and was able to come up and make an impact at some point this year. He would solve a lot of problems.

And if course there's Rodriguez. I'll have to be a little patient, but if he's everything he has the potential to be, we've got a big star.

Matt said it earlier, but a lineup featuring Wetherholt, Baez, and Rodriguez would be a hell of a lineup to build around. Even with waiting a few years for Rodriguez, Wetherholt, Baez, Herrera, and Burleson/Contreras is a solid four. And what if Walker and/or Gorman finally get it together? Winn is an average hitter too. That's a good lineup, and one that could make a real impact sooner than later.

The rotation may take a bit longer, but we'll see what we can get in trade this offseason that could help get it going quicker.

I'm with you Ronnie on Baez and next season....if he can continue the swing pattern from last season, then that's gold. He's an incredible base runner (I didn't say stealer, it's his decisions on the bases that gets him the SB's)...that's winning combo...Power and Baserunning, imo.

[Melville]

Good to see BA endorsing my perfect analysis that Bernal is the STL catcher who is the most logical trade piece from their depth at that position.
Highly likely someone there has been reading my work.
Whether that is the case or not is of no consequence.
Knowing that I am educating others is gratification enough.
Again, Crooks is the correct short-term play, and Rodriguez is on the rise.
Bernal, exactly as I have analyzed and advised, is sandwiched from above and below - and therefore is an important trade piece for Bloom.
My advice?
Keep reading.
Keep learning.

Bernal isn't "sandwiched" from above and below. He's the best...and I'll emphasize THE BEST receiver and arm in the system. His bat will eventually play...Yadi wasn't good on offense for a long time...yes, I made the comparison.

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

I am the only person to date who has correctly advised trading Mathews.
Been saying that for 3 months now.
Zero question that, at the minor league level, Bernal and Mathews are the two pieces Bloom should trade this off-season (along with those at the MLB level I have previously identified).
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.
Hopefully, Bloom is smart enough to understand that.
We shall soon see.......

presumptuous that trading Mathews is "correct"....but you be you. You do it well.

Bernal, is incorrect...because of the exact reasons I stated. He's the one that needs to be in AAA receiving Henderson, Mautz (if he's protected), Hansen (if he's protected), Rajcic (praying he can be fixed, but I doubt it...his fastball sucks), Mathews (if he's still in AAA), etc...you can't let Bernal go...he's too valuable to the Org. Dumb move, forgive the harshness in that 2 word comment, but it's a dumb move.

The CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is often difficult and requires both intelligence and courage.
Super Slo Mo possessed neither.
Being paralyzed by fear and limited by ignorance, Mo missed many opportunities over the years to make the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.
And I have a near perfect record of predicting every one of those misses long in advance.
Hopefully, Bloom will do better than his predecessor.
Doing exactly as I advise would guarantee it.
Zero question Bloom should trade Bernal if the return makes sense.
Remember, I am the ONLY person on the planet who was right about Hence in the fall of 2022 when I advised trading him- and at the time he was far more highly anticipated than Bernal is currently.
And I am right now.
More certain than tomorrow's sunrise.

[Melville]

I'm obviously pretty excited about JJ and Doyle, but I am also getting pretty excited about Joshua Baez. I am really hoping he will continue from his breakthrough performance last year. Would be great if he did and was able to come up and make an impact at some point this year. He would solve a lot of problems.

And if course there's Rodriguez. I'll have to be a little patient, but if he's everything he has the potential to be, we've got a big star.

Matt said it earlier, but a lineup featuring Wetherholt, Baez, and Rodriguez would be a hell of a lineup to build around. Even with waiting a few years for Rodriguez, Wetherholt, Baez, Herrera, and Burleson/Contreras is a solid four. And what if Walker and/or Gorman finally get it together? Winn is an average hitter too. That's a good lineup, and one that could make a real impact sooner than later.

The rotation may take a bit longer, but we'll see what we can get in trade this offseason that could help get it going quicker.

The last line is precisely why the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal.
As for Baez, I agree.
Perhaps he will be the outfielder who will fill the massive outfield hole which has existed for a decade now (of course, Mo traded Arozarena just weeks after I was the only person on the planet who predicted his monstrous breakout season).

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

Good points here. I get the urge to trade from catching depth, and it could definitely happen, but maybe later than sooner. I agree that we really have something in Bernal, at the very least defensively, but his bat has good potential as well. Bernal and Crooks have a pretty (bleep) good chance of being a very solid catching duo..

Also, while I commend Herrera for wanting another shot at catching, you gotta figure he's not going to stick there. But the bat plays, so you gotta find another spot for him.

I'm feeling the same about Rodriguez too. I think it sounds like he has the ability to develop into a serviceable catcher. Maybe a pretty good one. They say he's got the work ethic to do it. But I think you gotta keep that bat in the lineup as much as possible.

The only question I can't figure out is what position does he play? I've heard second or third, but I don't think anyone has a clue if he can play there. I've heard he's too short for 1B. Can he play LF, maybe? There's always DJ, but will Burleson and Herrera still be here then? What do you think?

[craviduce]

Rainiel, while he made strides behind the plate going from a fringe 40 grade to a 45, he's well behind Bernal on that point. Rainiel will likely move from behind the plate, and that's a great thing...as the pundits and CT have said, "save his knees, his bat is more important"

You'll get more for Bernal...more than Crooks, but it's not the right move. Bernal is likely a generational catcher. You don't trade the guy who had the best Catcher ERA in all of minor league baseball.

Besides....catcher isn't the depth we should trade from....LHP is much deeper and not as essential to the minor leagues as a really good catcher is.... You need the really good receivers in the system to develop your pitching.

Good points here. I get the urge to trade from catching depth, and it could definitely happen, but maybe later than sooner. I agree that we really have something in Bernal, at the very least defensively, but his bat has good potential as well. Bernal and Crooks have a pretty (drat) good chance of being a very solid catching duo..

Also, while I commend Herrera for wanting another shot at catching, you gotta figure he's not going to stick there. But the bat plays, so you gotta find another spot for him.

I'm feeling the same about Rodriguez too. I think it sounds like he has the ability to develop into a serviceable catcher. Maybe a pretty good one. They say he's got the work ethic to do it. But I think you gotta keep that bat in the lineup as much as possible.

The only question I can't figure out is what position does he play? I've heard second or third, but I don't think anyone has a clue if he can play there. I've heard he's too short for 1B. Can he play LF, maybe? There's always DJ, but will Burleson and Herrera still be here then? What do you think?

he was signed as a 3B. So, sometime before 2024 he played 3B. He's only 5'10"...that's probably with cleats, he looks a little shorter than that. 3B is an option to explore, 2B, too... he has the arm for both, and the work ethic to make the footwork work.

LF has to be explored, but he's carrying a 35 rated run speed. That's hard to overcome in the OF....Burleson is has the same albatross in LF (35 run speed)

again, there's avenues to explore...only 18yo....there's time. I think they keep him at Catcher/DH this season. The same 3 games Catcher schedule, 2 games DH he played this year.