2026 Cardinals Prospect Breakouts

[82birds]

another 2026 breakout candidate...
Chase Davis
I kid, I kid
he's been pretty disappointing

[craviduce]

another 2026 breakout candidate...
Chase Davis
I kid, I kid
he's been pretty disappointing

He's MORE than due...you never know. And he's R5 eligible at the end of next season, so a breakout would be timely.

Josh Baez put it together last year...he basically came out of nowhere after many years of struggle. There's some hope for Chase.

[Hoosier59]

In 2025 we are all aware of a few real breakouts we've had from players who super-charged their standing in the organization. I am thinking of Rainiel Rodriguez, Josh Baez, Brycen Mautz, and Ixan Henderson. Feel free to mention others if they come to mind. I have 3 picks to super-charge their standing next season, along with 2 hopes, and a question.

3 Super-Chargers
1) Yairo Padilla- I predict that if he stays healthy, then at this time next year he will be a top 5 Cardinal prospect, a top 100 MLB prospect, and perhaps even a top 50 MLB prospect.
2) Deniel Ortiz- I predict he will be top 10 Cardinal prospect and may make it all the way to AAA next season.
3)Andrew Dutkanych IV- I predict he will make it into the Cardinals top 20 prospects and may make it to AA if the roster isn't clogged ahead of him.

2 Hopes
1) Chen Wei Lin- Everyone loves his stuff, but he just hasn't put it all together yet. He's getting long in the tooth for a prospect. He is 24 and isn't ready to progress from AA yet. I hope the development system helps him figure it out. If he does, he will be a true asset.
2) Tink Hence- So many injuries, and so much mystery around his last injury. I'm beginning to wonder if he will ever throw a major league pitch. I hope the development system can help him figure out some strategies to stay healthy. The sky has always been the limit for him.

1 Question
1) Zach Levenson- Is he a prospect, or a suspect? Is it possible for him to make the Cardinals top 30 list by the end of next season? If so, the path is wide open for an OF that can produce. What say you?

Deniel Ortiz is a 6’2”, 230 lbs infielder out of Puerto Rico, who was 16th round pick out Walter’s st. C.C.. He is 21 yrs old, but will 22 in February i believe. He played at both low A and high A last year, and hit well at both stops, albeit with high K totals. He played both 1st base and 3rd base, committing 18 errors total, with 10 of them coming at 1st base. Given his youth, lack of experience and poor fielding stats, my hope is that the Cardinals do not rush him as been the case under MO’s leadership. I would start him out Peoria and let him develop there before a promotion to AA Springfield. The bat is obviously ahead of the glove, and they both need to be developed before reaching AAA.
Another player to watch is Josh Kross. Drafted as a catcher, but played 1st base. He also played at both A level teams, and hit a combined.225 average. There is concern there, however, in 377 at bats he hit 16 home runs with 81 RBI’s. Palm Beach is a tough place to hit home runs, so that total could see an increase 2026. With that kind of run production, let’s hope he can raise that batting average in 2026 as well.
On the pitching side, there are several lefties that get most of the attention, but one right hander that I’m hoping steps forward in 2026, is Handel Rincon.
Rincon is out of the Dominican, will be 24 yrs old in April, and is listed at 6’2”, 160 lbs.! That sounds like he is really lean!
If he could beef up a little bit he could be a break out candidate for 2026. He has pitched well, so far, but with some maturity he could be knocking on the door pretty soon.

[Talkin' Baseball]

In 2025 we are all aware of a few real breakouts we've had from players who super-charged their standing in the organization. I am thinking of Rainiel Rodriguez, Josh Baez, Brycen Mautz, and Ixan Henderson. Feel free to mention others if they come to mind. I have 3 picks to super-charge their standing next season, along with 2 hopes, and a question.

3 Super-Chargers
1) Yairo Padilla- I predict that if he stays healthy, then at this time next year he will be a top 5 Cardinal prospect, a top 100 MLB prospect, and perhaps even a top 50 MLB prospect.
2) Deniel Ortiz- I predict he will be top 10 Cardinal prospect and may make it all the way to AAA next season.
3)Andrew Dutkanych IV- I predict he will make it into the Cardinals top 20 prospects and may make it to AA if the roster isn't clogged ahead of him.

2 Hopes
1) Chen Wei Lin- Everyone loves his stuff, but he just hasn't put it all together yet. He's getting long in the tooth for a prospect. He is 24 and isn't ready to progress from AA yet. I hope the development system helps him figure it out. If he does, he will be a true asset.
2) Tink Hence- So many injuries, and so much mystery around his last injury. I'm beginning to wonder if he will ever throw a major league pitch. I hope the development system can help him figure out some strategies to stay healthy. The sky has always been the limit for him.

1 Question
1) Zach Levenson- Is he a prospect, or a suspect? Is it possible for him to make the Cardinals top 30 list by the end of next season? If so, the path is wide open for an OF that can produce. What say you?

Deniel Ortiz is a 6’2”, 230 lbs infielder out of Puerto Rico, who was 16th round pick out Walter’s st. C.C.. He is 21 yrs old, but will 22 in February i believe. He played at both low A and high A last year, and hit well at both stops, albeit with high K totals. He played both 1st base and 3rd base, committing 18 errors total, with 10 of them coming at 1st base. Given his youth, lack of experience and poor fielding stats, my hope is that the Cardinals do not rush him as been the case under MO’s leadership. I would start him out Peoria and let him develop there before a promotion to AA Springfield. The bat is obviously ahead of the glove, and they both need to be developed before reaching AAA.
Another player to watch is Josh Kross. Drafted as a catcher, but played 1st base. He also played at both A level teams, and hit a combined.225 average. There is concern there, however, in 377 at bats he hit 16 home runs with 81 RBI’s. Palm Beach is a tough place to hit home runs, so that total could see an increase 2026. With that kind of run production, let’s hope he can raise that batting average in 2026 as well.
On the pitching side, there are several lefties that get most of the attention, but one right hander that I’m hoping steps forward in 2026, is Handel Rincon.
Rincon is out of the Dominican, will be 24 yrs old in April, and is listed at 6’2”, 160 lbs.! That sounds like he is really lean!
If he could beef up a little bit he could be a break out candidate for 2026. He has pitched well, so far, but with some maturity he could be knocking on the door pretty soon.

I'll be watching for Rincon!

[rockondlouie]

In 2025 we are all aware of a few real breakouts we've had from players who super-charged their standing in the organization. I am thinking of Rainiel Rodriguez, Josh Baez, Brycen Mautz, and Ixan Henderson. Feel free to mention others if they come to mind. I have 3 picks to super-charge their standing next season, along with 2 hopes, and a question.

3 Super-Chargers
1) Yairo Padilla- I predict that if he stays healthy, then at this time next year he will be a top 5 Cardinal prospect, a top 100 MLB prospect, and perhaps even a top 50 MLB prospect.
2) Deniel Ortiz- I predict he will be top 10 Cardinal prospect and may make it all the way to AAA next season.
3)Andrew Dutkanych IV- I predict he will make it into the Cardinals top 20 prospects and may make it to AA if the roster isn't clogged ahead of him.

2 Hopes
1) Chen Wei Lin- Everyone loves his stuff, but he just hasn't put it all together yet. He's getting long in the tooth for a prospect. He is 24 and isn't ready to progress from AA yet. I hope the development system helps him figure it out. If he does, he will be a true asset.
2) Tink Hence- So many injuries, and so much mystery around his last injury. I'm beginning to wonder if he will ever throw a major league pitch. I hope the development system can help him figure out some strategies to stay healthy. The sky has always been the limit for him.

1 Question
1) Zach Levenson- Is he a prospect, or a suspect? Is it possible for him to make the Cardinals top 30 list by the end of next season? If so, the path is wide open for an OF that can produce. What say you?

Nice

I love reading you guys who really follow the kids.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Thanks for all this information about minor leaguers I never heard of. Hopefully as the Cards farm system improves Arizona Fall league will be more interesting next year.

[PadsFS07]

Leonardo Bernal is going under the radar this off season due to his second half slump. I think he puts it together for a full year next year. Thru July last year, he had a .900 OPS at various points or close to.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Leonardo Bernal is going under the radar this off season due to his second half slump. I think he puts it together for a full year next year. Thru July last year, he had a .900 OPS at various points or close to.

I basically agree with you, and I’m with you that he could have a big year this year, but I would argue that in no way is Bernal off the radar. He’s a top five prospect in a deep system and was just voted the best defensive catcher in all the minor leagues