First time since 2013 , the Cardinals have 6 prospects in Top 100

[ramfandan]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

13 years later , these 6 in MLB Pipeline list (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

[TopofthePerch]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

Now 13 years later , these 6 (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

I think you can argue all six of those players had a significant impact in some form or another for at least some period of time. Although obviously Taveras had his life cut short.

[Ozziesfan41]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

Now 13 years later , these 6 (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

I think you can argue all six of those players had a significant impact in some form or another for at least some period of time. Although obviously Taveras has his life cut short.

And Martinez and wacha were fantastic before injuries derailed them

[TopofthePerch]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

Now 13 years later , these 6 (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

I think you can argue all six of those players had a significant impact in some form or another for at least some period of time. Although obviously Taveras has his life cut short.

And Martinez and wacha were fantastic before injuries derailed them

Yea they were. I love the fact that they are targeting high end prospects that were drafted high. It at least gives them the best shot at getting them developed.

[ICCFIM2]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

Now 13 years later , these 6 (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

I think you can argue all six of those players had a significant impact in some form or another for at least some period of time. Although obviously Taveras has his life cut short.

And Martinez and wacha were fantastic before injuries derailed them

CMart and Wacha were really good pre-injury and Rosenthal was a good closer. Made me wonder if we would be happy with a trio out of our pitching prospects that were that good or are we expecting more? I am kind of expecting more. Pitchers get hurt. But when you look at what the trio of Henderson, Mautz and Hansen did last year in Springfield, then the fact that we added to them Clarke, Cijntje and Fajardo via trade who are all ranked higher and we added Doyle by draft who is higher and retain Mathews and Roby who are higher. That is 6 pitchers ranked higher than the Springfield trio in the system plus there is still Hence, Hjerpe and Franklin. So 12 SP prospects, plus McGreevy, Liberatore, Dobbins and Fitts. Surely that is a full SP staff that can compete by say 2028. I am giving all of these guys 2 full development years, 2026 and 2027 before my expectation is that this shapes into a top end rotation.

So good analogy. But, with all those guys, my expecations are higher than CMart, Wacha and Rosenthal. Now where is Craviduce to ground me in reality...

[sp25]

Coincidentally, 2013 is the last year the Cardinals have been to the World Series.

Let's hope this new half dozen can help the team achieve more than the last group.

[craviduce]

According to Bernie M. on podcast

Baseball America in 2013 had these 6 : O.Taveras , Shelby Miller, C.Martinez, M. Wacha, K.Wong, & T. Rosenthal

Now 13 years later , these 6 (with the MLB ranknings ) : 5 Wetherholt, 34 Doyle, 37, Rodriguez , 87, Josh Baez, 91 Cijntje, 98 Bernal

I think you can argue all six of those players had a significant impact in some form or another for at least some period of time. Although obviously Taveras has his life cut short.

And Martinez and wacha were fantastic before injuries derailed them

CMart and Wacha were really good pre-injury and Rosenthal was a good closer. Made me wonder if we would be happy with a trio out of our pitching prospects that were that good or are we expecting more? I am kind of expecting more. Pitchers get hurt. But when you look at what the trio of Henderson, Mautz and Hansen did last year in Springfield, then the fact that we added to them Clarke, Cijntje and Fajardo via trade who are all ranked higher and we added Doyle by draft who is higher and retain Mathews and Roby who are higher. That is 6 pitchers ranked higher than the Springfield trio in the system plus there is still Hence, Hjerpe and Franklin. So 12 SP prospects, plus McGreevy, Liberatore, Dobbins and Fitts. Surely that is a full SP staff that can compete by say 2028. I am giving all of these guys 2 full development years, 2026 and 2027 before my expectation is that this shapes into a top end rotation.

So good analogy. But, with all those guys, my expecations are higher than CMart, Wacha and Rosenthal. Now where is Craviduce to ground me in reality...

I feel sheepish all of the sudden. Never meant to ground anyone in reality. We all see things differently, and I try to respect that....even if I come across differently.

The expectations are legit. We have good crop up top. And more importantly, we have the makings of a very good system that hopefully keeps replenishing the big leagues for years to come. I've been crying/moaning for depth beyond depth in the 35-45 Future Value prospects....and it seems we're there, or at least getting there.

I'll throw a bone of goodwill in closing....players to watch that you likely haven't heard much about or not a lot:

Ryan Mitchell ~ worth the watch as he makes his pro debut in April or May (if he's relegated to FCL)

Jack Gurevitch ~ he can't do worse than his initial debut in late July after the draft

Ryan Weingartner ~ see Jack Gurevitch....both players "SHOULD" hit better at Palm Beach this spring. They join Mitchell as our best hitting prospects from the 2025 draft.

Andrew Dutkanych IV ~ RHP from Vandy...drafted while sitting out with TJ surgery in 2024. Debuted late last year, Limited innings, but you saw the sharpness in his delivery and the flashes of swing and miss pitches. He was exciting to watch in a rather BLEH year season for Palm Beach....I'm very excited for AD4's 2026 season...should begin at Palm Beach with no innings/pitch limit.

Yairo Padilla ~ should've heard the name, some scouts/pundits thought he might have power at 17 in first foray stateside, but he's coming into his own and his body....6'4" now, but still thin. Great arm, Great speed, Very good contact, Athleticism makes him viable almost anywhere defensively...plays SS for now. He held his own at FCL at 17yo. Tremendous streak he had going before he was sidelined the rest of the year. Look for him at PMB in April. I think he will turn the heads he was supposed to turn last year. He's our next Top 100 prospect...imo

Luis Gastelum ~ future closer, best Change Up in all the Minor Leagues....work horse for Springfield last year....had 3 or 4 games that he blew up in...affected his ERA. Big K%. Will close in Memphis this year...at least he should

Deniel Ortiz ~ probably heard of him....Community College draftee from 2024 draft...good OBP, excellent power....3B/1B. Like to see the power continue into Peoria/Springfield this year. Interested to see how he does vs. good/better curve balls

Sebastian Dos Santos ~ turned into a hitting machine with power in the DSL last year. Signed last January (2025 for under $100K), he should be stateside with DSL teammate Kenley Hunter ~ hitting machine as well, no power, lots of speed.

Leonel Sequera ~ stellar year as a teenager for Palm Beach last year....control was magnificent for a DSL product. Not sure where they start him this year, I hope he tastes Peoria...he needs the challenge.

Tyler Van Dyke ~ one pitcher not from Tennessee who excited me in last years draft....Closer from Stetson University, pitched well as a starter for Palm Beach in August. Really want to see how they use him going forward....his stuff high upside to be a starter....or a back end reliever. We'll see.

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

There's more, but those are the few who might not be as well known....of course I'm excited for Franklin, Luna (DSL power hitting signee a few weeks ago), Fajardo (Spellcheck) from the Boston trades....I'm forgetting a few, but I'm just going off the brain bank, and it's a bit fried from shoveling 13 inches of snow this past weekend