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FanGraphs has ranked the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system as the #1 farm system in baseball. This high ranking is attributed to a combination of strong prospect ratings and the expected contribution from their talented minor league players.

The Cardinals have a deep and talented farm system, with FanGraphs identifying 49 prospects rated as 35 future value players or higher.
According to the rankings, the system includes two players rated as 55-grade prospects and five players rated as 50-grades.

This top ranking is also a result of recent moves at the trade deadline and success in the MLB Draft, which helped to restock the minor league system with talent.

The Cardinals' farm system is considered to be in the best shape it has been in years, with the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, set to oversee the organization's future.

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/far ... m-rankings

Then the adjectives that were used to describe the state
of the Cardinals system were slightly overblown. A position
that I still hold.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 14:49 pm FanGraphs has ranked the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system as the #1 farm system in baseball. This high ranking is attributed to a combination of strong prospect ratings and the expected contribution from their talented minor league players.

The Cardinals have a deep and talented farm system, with FanGraphs identifying 49 prospects rated as 35 future value players or higher.
According to the rankings, the system includes two players rated as 55-grade prospects and five players rated as 50-grades.

This top ranking is also a result of recent moves at the trade deadline and success in the MLB Draft, which helped to restock the minor league system with talent.

The Cardinals' farm system is considered to be in the best shape it has been in years, with the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, set to oversee the organization's future.

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/far ... m-rankings

I sure hope that Fan Graphs is spot on!

Even being subjective, great to see the direction and progress.

Sidenote, when was the last time the Dodgers didn't have a top 5 system? Really annoying.

riff raff wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 15:15 pm That Bloom sure works fast

I know you used blue font, but there is a whole perception thing that goes along with prospects. Teams' prospects are regarded more highly, or less highly, depending on who is doing the drafting/developing. For instance, when we talk about a prospect from Tampa Bay, often we assume they are good because of where they come from, regardless of who they are. Perhaps we are starting to find ourselves on the better side of that conversation.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 14:49 pm FanGraphs has ranked the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system as the #1 farm system in baseball. This high ranking is attributed to a combination of strong prospect ratings and the expected contribution from their talented minor league players.

The Cardinals have a deep and talented farm system, with FanGraphs identifying 49 prospects rated as 35 future value players or higher.
According to the rankings, the system includes two players rated as 55-grade prospects and five players rated as 50-grades.

This top ranking is also a result of recent moves at the trade deadline and success in the MLB Draft, which helped to restock the minor league system with talent.

The Cardinals' farm system is considered to be in the best shape it has been in years, with the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, set to oversee the organization's future.

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/far ... m-rankings

Good. Now they can start spending and walking and chewing that gum at the same time!

That’s what everyone has been waiting for right?…Fix the minors first, then we can spend on some quality free agents. Well, here we are!

Even if your sort per player they are 3rd.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 15:29 pm

riff raff wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 15:15 pm That Bloom sure works fast

I know you used blue font, but there is a whole perception thing that goes along with prospects. Teams' prospects are regarded more highly, or less highly, depending on who is doing the drafting/developing. For instance, when we talk about a prospect from Tampa Bay, often we assume they are good because of where they come from, regardless of who they are. Perhaps we are starting to find ourselves on the better side of that conversation.

Nah

Baseball America ( a highly rated service by baseball people ) gave the Cardinals a B for their farm system . ( as of Sept. 2025 revised rankings )

Comments :

Grade: B

Chaim Bloom is quietly planting the seeds for a system that may start to—yes, you guessed it–bloom in 2026 and beyond. JJ Wetherholt has ascended to one of the game’s finest prospects, and Rainiel Rodriguez is now a Top 100 Prospect with plenty of thump in the lower minors. Reversing the slide of outfielder Joshua Baez is a huge win, too, and adding potential quick-moving fireballer Liam Doyle gives the Cardinals a new high-end arm to work with. Injuries to Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby hurt, but the Cardinals system is trending in the right direction.

Fangraphs has 7 Cardinals in the top 100

9 JJ Wetherholt
19 Liam Doyle
40 Leonardo Bernal
71 Rainiel Rodriguez
77 Jimmy Crooks
83 Quinn Mathews
87 Tink Hence

Mr Buttercup wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 16:19 pm Fangraphs has 7 Cardinals in the top 100

9 JJ Wetherholt
19 Liam Doyle
40 Leonardo Bernal
71 Rainiel Rodriguez
77 Jimmy Crooks
83 Quinn Mathews
87 Tink Hence

Put me in the camp of I'll believe it when I see it after the flops of Carlson, Gorman and Walker.

Mr Buttercup wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 16:19 pm Fangraphs has 7 Cardinals in the top 100

9 JJ Wetherholt
19 Liam Doyle
40 Leonardo Bernal
71 Rainiel Rodriguez
77 Jimmy Crooks
83 Quinn Mathews
87 Tink Hence

I hope they are right. But, it is far from certain that either Bernal or Crooks are more than JAGs. Mathews needs to demonstrate control and health. Hence health. Baez who is not ranked is my great hope. But, like Gorman, he needs to demonstrate he can make contact at the higher levels.

I also asked on the Monday chat about the three Springfield starters, Henderson, Hansen and Mautz. The answer was quite discouraging, Henderson is back of the rotation and the other 2 are bullpen and may not even be protected this year from the rule 5 draft.

2026 will be another runway year. Perhaps all of the prospects listed above, except Rodriguez get at least a cup of coffee in the majors next year. That should give us at least an idea of where we stand. But, I have a hard time getting excited about hitters who hit sub 800 OPS in the minors. I also have a hard time getting excited about pitchers who either can't stay healthy or they walk 70 guys in 94 innings in the minors. Numbers and health tend to deteriorate in the majors, not improve.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025 14:49 pm FanGraphs has ranked the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system as the #1 farm system in baseball. This high ranking is attributed to a combination of strong prospect ratings and the expected contribution from their talented minor league players.

The Cardinals have a deep and talented farm system, with FanGraphs identifying 49 prospects rated as 35 future value players or higher.
According to the rankings, the system includes two players rated as 55-grade prospects and five players rated as 50-grades.

This top ranking is also a result of recent moves at the trade deadline and success in the MLB Draft, which helped to restock the minor league system with talent.

The Cardinals' farm system is considered to be in the best shape it has been in years, with the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, set to oversee the organization's future.

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/far ... m-rankings

That is overly generous. Other teams minors must really suck

#19 for Doyle at this point strikes me as a bit aggressive. Maybe wait until he develops at least one quality secondary pitch?

I view these prospects as assets. Hold onto the ones that you think will fill a need or flip a player for a need.