STLtoday.com

craviduce wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 18:52 pm https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/150 ... -they-take

Flobaseball's 1st 2026 mock.

Chris Hacopian, SS/Utility, Texas A&M

zuck698 wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 19:09 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 18:52 pm https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/150 ... -they-take

Flobaseball's 1st 2026 mock.

Chris Hacopian, SS/Utility, Texas A&M

Hope this is a best available selection unless we are trying to corner the market on SS. I guess theoretically, every draft should be best available, but we know that not to be the case. Need comes into play quite often, regardless of what the talking heads of teams may say.

I haven't really been paying much attention yet. Any thoughts on him Duce? Or any say of the top 13?

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 07:19 am I assume the Donovan Trade means the last chess piece has been moved, and Bloom has probably accumulated all the Draft Picks we’ll see the Cardinals select July 11-12

Post Donovan Trade, Cardinals jump to #2 in Draft Rank Value with $16.9 million in accumulated slot spending

First Round
13.) Screwed by Draft Lottery

Competitive Balance A
32.) 10 smallest markets or 10 smallest revenue pools

Second Round
50.)

Competitive Balance B
68.) For Donny from Mariners
72.) For Donny from Rays

Third Round
86.)

Forth Round
115.)

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:41 pm

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

Agree on Ortiz. Does Strop come stateside this year, or sometime in the future?

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

craviduce wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:45 pm

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

just oversight not mentioning Ortiz for 2024. Sorry. My mistake. I've tried to mention Deniel before, and talked about convos with FutureGM2 about Deniel. It wasnt a lack of liking him, just an oversight.

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:53 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:45 pm

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

just oversight not mentioning Ortiz for 2024. Sorry. My mistake. I've tried to mention Deniel before, and talked about convos with FutureGM2 about Deniel. It wasnt a lack of liking him, just an oversight.

Understood, and I figured it was an oversight on your part. However, as I sated, for some reason lots of other people seem to be overlooking him, which is fine. Probably waiting to see if such a late drafted player can repeat his first season success before proclaiming him a success. If Deniel has more success early this season, I suspect he'll start to get the accolades as a good hitter. I think the jury is still out on his position, and that may have something to do with it.

craviduce wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 13:00 pm

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:53 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:45 pm

DewittDaman11 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 12:30 pm

craviduce wrote: ↑12 Dec 2025 14:56 pm we haven't drafted a good hitter, outside of the one handed to us, Wetherholt....since 2020.....maybe 2022 with VS2 and Crooks III, but I'm not sold on either. They did hit enough to make the majors...that's the main goal, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed that Baez backs up his 2025 breakout performance.

early returns on 2025 Draft from the plate side was HORRIBLE....they WHIFFED alot at the plate. Gurevitch and Datallo, the two I was most excited about fell so flat, it left you with the feeling of no hope. Gurevitch in particular was SUPPOSED to be a good bat. I think our most successful bats were the two catchers...20th pick and a UDFA. Forget their names.

Flipside with the Frodo draft from 2024...they all could take a walk...but like you said, outside of JJ you had Petrutz (He never met a 1B/RF line he didn't like ~ Pull Happy), and Gazdar the offensive output has been putrid at best. Kross did hit some HR's at PMB, but you saw the futility coming shortly before his promotion to Peoria. He was done after the promotion.

Pitching wise from 2024...still awaiting Holiday's debut. Davis doesn't give up many hits, but he gasses after 50 pitches. Threw some real gems for 4 innings...quite alot, but PC caught up to him. Dutkanych (AD4) may be the Gem of that draft....we'll see.

Davis, Honeyman, Levenson, Harris have been mildly disappointing to very disappointing. Harris the best of that bunch....2023...That's when I started losing faith in Flores and his scouting crew...the year before he (upset) me off with the Hjerpe pick...but 2023...no excuse there.

I feel we've drafted poorly overall from 2023-2025. I like the picks of Wetherholt and Franklin...I'm okay with Doyle, but he wasn't on my Top 5 radar...he made my next 5 I could live with....Jury is out for me on him until we can determine who he is..."High Ceiling FOTR starter, or his Low Floor Back of the BP set up/closer". Don't get me started on Mitchell...scouting says he can hit...but I think he may take a while...

Thankfully, we've done pretty well the last few years in IFA...Rodriguez, Padilla, Hunter, Strop, Dos Santos...they help offset the Draft Woes.

I"m on the FIRE FLORES bandwagon...most can attest I've been saying it since 2023 (grumbling in 2022)

Nor sure if Deniel Ortiz was just an oversight, or you meant to leave him off of the list of well drafted hitters. Or, maybe you were referring to early in the draft, as Ortiz was drafted at 16. Of course, really, Ortiz is being overlooked by everyone, and I'll assume it was his draft pedigree. But, either way, I feel Ortiz needs at least some attention for his great first year. I guess we'll see if he's the real thing this year, or just a first year anomaly.

just oversight not mentioning Ortiz for 2024. Sorry. My mistake. I've tried to mention Deniel before, and talked about convos with FutureGM2 about Deniel. It wasnt a lack of liking him, just an oversight.

Understood, and I figured it was an oversight on your part. However, as I sated, for some reason lots of other people seem to be overlooking him, which is fine. Probably waiting to see if such a late drafted player can repeat his first season success before proclaiming him a success. If Deniel has more success early this season, I suspect he'll start to get the accolades as a good hitter. I think the jury is still out on his position, and that may have something to do with it.

If we listed/polled for Top 5 players to enter our Top 10 Prospects lists....I think Ortiz would garner a lot of votes. I can't find the thread/remember which one it was, but 2 days ago, I listed players (off the mainstream) to watch this year....Ortiz was one of them. I like his Walks, his XBH/Hit ratio is High at 33/111. Plays the Infield Corners. Look forward to him again this year, and hope his numbers hold heading into better leagues and meaner Curveballs. This season should be a test for him. Keep the Walks around 15%, Don't let the K's get any higher than his 25-27%.

craviduce wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026 13:36 pm College Baseball kicks off next weekend.

~ Shriner's Classic in Arlington TX, Feb 13-15...quite a lineup again this year.

Texas Tech, TCU, OU, Ok St, Vandy, Arkansas

featuring top draft prospects : Sawyer Strosnider, RF/LF (TCU) ; Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, (Arkansas) ; Ryan Helfrick, C (Arkansas) ; Hunter Deitz, LHP (Arkansas) ; Chase Brunson, OF, (TCU) ; Logan Hughes, OF, (Texas Tech) ; Tommy LaPour, LHP (TCU) ; Carson Wiggins RHP (Arkansas) ;

Wiggins won't play...probably not at all until late into Tournament Season (May/June)....he blew out his elbow early last year...right after he was sitting 98-99mph with his fastball, topping 102mph. He has an 80/80 Fastball, 70/80 grade Slider. That's the high upside risk vs reward type pick you like to see.

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Games will be live on FloBaseball.TV again....give them a try. Always love that site.