Signed: Worldwide Signing Interval, 2024 from Dominican Republic (STL)
| Age | 18.5 | Top | 5′ 10″ | Weight | 210 | Bat / Thr | R / R | FV | 50 |
|---|
Instrument Grades (Current/Future)
| Hit | Uncooked Energy | Sport Energy | Run | Fielding | Throw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/50 | 50/55 | 20/55 | 45/40 | 40/60 | 50 |
Blended with the rumble of thunder alongside the storm-freckled east coast of Florida have been the concussive sounds of Rainiel Rodriguez hitting a baseball. The dynamic Dominican catcher stomped onto the shores of the FCL this 12 months and, for the second straight season, made hitting look really easy that the Cardinals had been compelled to advertise him to Low-A Palm Seashore after only a month of play. In simply 61 profession video games earlier than Rodriguez was promoted to the Low-A roster in early June, he had a 1.200 OPS, extra walks than strikeouts, 17 homers, and 38 additional base hits. He joins the handful of different exceptionally proficient 2024 worldwide newbie signees who’ve reached full season ball, and Rodriguez, whose spikes are painted just like the physique of a scorching rod, is likely one of the most fun-to-watch gamers within the minors. He does no less than somewhat little bit of every part effectively, and a few stuff (like hitting for energy and taking part in good protection) he does a whole lot of. This man can hit, has energy, and may be very more likely to be defensive catcher if he can polish his framing.
A stocky prodigy, Rodriguez waits till the ball travels deep within the hitting zone earlier than deciding whether or not to unload. His compact construct helps facilitate this, and ensures that he can snatch pitches to his pull facet even when he waits an additional beat to swing. He has energy to all fields and it manifests in video games, as Rodriguez has spectacular barrel really feel and plate protection although he swings with large effort. We don’t know a ton but in regards to the chase and plate self-discipline facet of Rodriguez’s ability set. Rookie pitching didn’t problem him, and his Low-A pattern remains to be actually small. That’s an enormous variable that we’ll all get to study extra about all through the second half. Pending a revelation of his endurance, Rainiel seems like he’s going to have a potent contact and energy mix for a catcher. He’s very muscular and bodily mature for his age, his physique tasks to resemble that of Shea Langeliers, Hunter Goodman, Francisco Alvarez — the type of bulky-but-athletic kind of catcher for which there’s loads of profitable precedent. He won’t develop into far more uncooked energy, however he already has lots.
Rodriguez’s greatest defensive trait proper now could be his agile ball-blocking, which he makes look simple. Within the occasion he offers up an extended rebound, he’s fast out of his crouch to forestall an advance, and this extends to his throwing. Rodriguez’s throwing footwork wants polish, however he has a mean uncooked arm that ought to play up due to his alternate and accuracy. Along with simply being a really proficient baseball participant, Rodriguez can be heady, poised, and aggressive. He carries himself like an older lad who belongs within the mid-minors with different adults, and one can foresee him rising into the type of one who leads your clubhouse. Teenage catching prospect caveats apply right here however, man, that is an thrilling participant who seems like a future influence common.
Signed: Worldwide Signing Interval, 2023 from Taiwan (STL)
| Age | 23.6 | Top | 6′ 7″ | Weight | 200 | Bat / Thr | R / R | FV | 45+ |
|---|
Instrument Grades (Current/Future)
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Sits/Tops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60/70 | 40/45 | 45/60 | 30/45 | 94-99 / 100 |
Lin was a notable Taiwanese school pitcher who gained stateside publicity through the Northwoods and MLB Draft Leagues earlier than he signed with the Cardinals for $500,000 in 2023. He pitched somewhat bit on the Jupiter advanced and in A-ball that 12 months, and was very walk-prone. Despatched again to Low-A Palm Seashore in 2024, Lin’s stuff overwhelmed hitters, and he had an incredible season — 116 innings, 9.54 Ok/9, 2.79 BB/9, 2.79 ERA — regardless of nonetheless being mechanically inconsistent. His fastball touched 100 mph a number of instances all through the season and sat 94-97 for a lot of the 12 months, and although Lin’s velocity tapered somewhat bit as time went on, he was nonetheless parked within the 93-96 mph vary in August. Lin missed the primary month of 2025 with a forearm pressure however returned in early Might and was assigned to Excessive-A Peoria for the primary time. His strike-throwing has backed up fairly a bit, particularly within the weeks main as much as this publication, which signifies Lin remains to be extra of a high-upside venture than an ascendant star.
Lin’s skyscraping, 6-foot-7 body remains to be nowhere close to crammed out, and he stays projectable even at age 23. Added energy doesn’t have to yield any extra velocity, however stamina and physique management can be good. We’re nonetheless bullish on Lin’s eventual means to do this although he’s been stroll inclined once more this 12 months. Pitchers this dimension who transfer with this type of mechanical fluidity are uncommon and sometimes blossom late. Lin’s changeup tasks to be his greatest secondary pitch. It tends to reside within the higher 80s, and whereas Lin’s really feel for finding it to his arm facet is precocious, his means to create bat-missing motion on each isn’t. His greatest ones are plus, and the pitch tasks to mature there. The path of Lin’s slider additionally varies, and that pitch has low-end uncooked spin, often registering underneath 2,000 rpm. Sure, Lin is 23 and has barely pitched about Low-A, however he’s now confirmed he can maintain above-average velocity throughout a whole lot of innings, and he carried out regardless of being pretty uncooked. He has till the tip of subsequent season earlier than the Cardinals need to put him on the 40-man, which is loads of time for him to stretch out much more, polish his management, and climb a degree per 12 months in order that he’s comfortably in place for an add after 2026 after which a debut within the mid-2027 by means of early 2028 window. This can be a high-ceiling pitching prospect who we expect has a shot to be a mid-rotation starter down the road.
Drafted: 2nd Spherical, 2022 from San Diego (STL)
| Age | 24.0 | Top | 6′ 3″ | Weight | 190 | Bat / Thr | L / L | FV | 40 |
|---|
Instrument Grades (Current/Future)
| Fastball | Slider | Curveball | Changeup | Command | Sits/Tops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45/45 | 55/55 | 40/45 | 35/40 | 45/55 | 91-94 / 95 |
Mautz is a low-variance backend starter prospect whose low-end consequence is within the realm of a lefty specialist. He labored 121.2 innings in 2024, and whereas his ERA bloated above 5, his peripherals had been high-quality and have been for the final three years (roughly 25% Ok and 9% BB). Mautz elevates 91-94 mph fastballs from a low-three-quarters slot and bends in a top quality mid-80s slider for strikes and chases. The velo on his slider is means up this 12 months whereas the remainder of his repertoire is roughly the identical, suggesting a change within the design of Mautz’s slider has taken place (it’s somewhat extra cutter-y now, however not radically completely different when it comes to form). He lowers his arm slot when he’s throwing his changeup and typically when he’s lobbing his curveball into the zone for strikes, which large league hitters may choose up. An extended arm motion prevents us from projecting too closely on Mautz’s changeup, which is the place the lefty reliever consequence creeps into his profile. That is Mautz’s 40-man analysis 12 months and readers ought to take into account him a possible addition to the roster after the season, however not a lock.
Different Prospects of Observe
Grouped by kind and listed so as of desire inside every class.
Rookie Ballers
Kenly Hunter, CF
Gabriel Chinchilla, RHP
Jan Cabrera, RHP
Yaxson Lucena, LF
Edward Guribe, 3B
Kriscol Peralta, RHP
Ricardo Fernandez, RHP
Xavier Cruz, RHP
Jovi Galvez, RHP
Hunter is a plus-plus operating Nicaraguan outfielder who has been powerful to strike out up to now within the DSL. Contact means, pace, and what the latter portends for his defensive match make him a notable prospect. Constructed like a nickel nook prospect, Hunter’s contact high quality is presently fairly mild. Chinchilla is an 18-year-old Venezuelan righty within the DSL who’s sitting 92-93 with rising motion. His arm stroke is somewhat late, however in any other case he has the low-effort mechanical components and dimension (6-foot-3, 180 kilos or so) of a beginning pitcher. His secondaries — an 83 mph gyro slider used most of all — are beneath common. He seems like a possible command-oriented backend man. Cabrera is a 20-year-old low-slot Cuban righty within the DSL with a low-90s heater and a plus-flashing splitter. He has really feel for location and a starter’s pitch combine, however he must throw more durable as he matures. Lucena can actually monitor breaking balls and has the perfect barrel management on the DSL roster. His A swings are harmful, however when he gives at pitches away from him, he’s simply hitting fungoes to the infielders. That is 12 months two of the DSL for him, and he’s off to an incredible begin.
Guribe is a big-framed third baseman with barrel really feel that comes from the alteration of his posture relatively than his arms. He’s in his second DSL season and he’s having floor success once more, this time with fewer strikeouts. Peralta, 17, is a 6-foot-6 righty sitting 90-92 with a below-average breaking ball. He ought to be in your radar for his sheer dimension and strike-throwing, however his stuff isn’t good but. Fernandez is a really projectable 6-foot-4 Cuban righty with a vertical assault. He has 30-grade velo proper now and is rather less fluid than you’d like (his arm motion is already tremendous quick and deliberate), however we’re speaking a couple of fella who’s nonetheless 16 as we sit right here. He’s in all probability a multi-year DSL man whose title we should always stash away for later. Cruz, 19, is in DSL 12 months two and dealing within the 92-95 mph vary together with his fastball. His supply may be very upright and the form on his fastball isn’t nice, however he’s a lanky 6-foot-3 and already throwing type of onerous. Galvez is in his fourth 12 months of rookie ball; his present 8.59 ERA is a profession greatest, and he’s walked a batter and a half per inning this 12 months. Why point out him? He touches 102.
Well-known Fringe Guys
Jonathan Mejia, SS
Sammy Hernandez, C
Received-Bin Cho, OF
Ryan Campos, C
Zach Levenson, OF
Mejia is a 20-year-old switch-hitting center infielder who signed for $2 million in 2022. He has plus lefty bat pace however has had strikeout points in rookie and A-ball, in addition to issues throwing precisely. An athletic Puerto Rican-born catcher drafted by the Blue Jays out of a highschool in Florida, Hernandez was traded to St. Louis for Génesis Cabrera in 2023. He has struggled to hit sufficient to go away Palm Seashore and is now 21. Cho hasn’t been capable of faucet into his energy for the final couple of seasons and has been operating a wRC+ about 20% beneath league common for the reason that begin of 2024. Campos is a hitterish little catcher from ASU who doesn’t throw effectively. He performed another positions in school, together with some second base. A 2023 fifth rounder out of Miami, Levenson is a hard-swinging nook outfielder who has struggled to make ample contact in his two trials at Peoria.
Depth Starters
Darlin Saladin, RHP
Ian Bedell, RHP
Saladin is a 22-year-old righty within the Peoria rotation whose shot-putter’s arm motion generates a below-average fastball however slider. His bat-missing efficiency is means down in comparison with 2024. Bedell has been written up as a 40 FV starter right here up to now, however the almost 26-year-old is coping with a two-tick dip in his stuff this 12 months.
Huge League Stuff, Org Man Management
Leonardo Taveras, RHP
Edwin Nuñez, RHP
Joseph King, RHP
Taveras has been the identical man for some time now. He has a quarterback’s construct, throws exceptionally onerous, and his fastball has efficient vertical life. Apart from the 2023 season, throughout which he was suspended for PEDs, Taveras has additionally walked 6 per 9 IP or extra yearly since earlier than the pandemic. We don’t wish to fully hand over on a man with this construct and arm energy, however at this level Taveras is a minor league free company change-of-scenery candidate. Nuñez is just about similar and has been as much as 100 this 12 months after shifting to the bullpen, however he’s strolling greater than a batter per inning. King is a 24-year-old righty from Cal who has been treading water within the mid-minors for a few years. He sits 95, has an incredible energy changeup, and struggles to throw strikes.
Good Sliders
Jack Findlay, LHP
Mason Burns, RHP
Zack Showalter, RHP
Sam Brodersen, RHP
Conor Steinbaugh, RHP
Findlay is a 22-year-old lefty out of Notre Dame and a $400,000 bonus man from final 12 months’s eighth spherical whose slider is nice sufficient that he may ultimately play a specialist function. Burns was an $80,000 signee out of Western Kentucky in 2024 whose deep, mid-80s slider is dominating the FSL in a reduction capability. Showalter is extra of a fastball man however didn’t match into some other bucket right here. He has an uphill, upper-80s fastball created by an excessive drop-and-drive supply. Brodersen and Steinbaugh are older guys (Steinbaugh is 26) carving A-ball with good sliders.
Injured Pitchers
Brian Vacation, RHP
Andrew Dutkanych IV, RHP
Vacation was final 12 months’s third spherical select of Oklahoma State, however he hasn’t thrown a professional pitch but as he’s on the complete season IL with an undisclosed harm. Dutkanych regarded like an influence fastball/breaking ball man at his greatest in highschool and at Vanderbilt, however he blew out final March and wanted TJ earlier than he was drafted.
System Overview
It’s a transitional time for the Cardinals group, with Chaim Bloom set to take over baseball operations subsequent season. Within the wake of a number of years of older main league rosters that underperformed the name-brand worth of their headlining expertise, he carries with him the specific mandate of reviving the participant growth engine that was as soon as so indefatigable that it received lumped underneath the bigger umbrella “Cardinals satan magic.”
With that in thoughts, the deep effectively of 40-45 FVs current here’s a higher, if much less flashy indication of bettering organizational well being than a ready-made hitting machine falling into St. Louis’ laps with the no. 7 general choose. However JJ Wetherholt seems able to cowl for lots, and his seemingly addition to the most important league roster later this 12 months will obscure the truth that their 50 FV-caliber arms getting into this season – Quinn Mathews and Tink Therefore – have largely stagnated as a result of accidents. And it’s simpler to understand somebody like Jimmy Crooks when studying quotes from the pitching workers about his protection on the finish of an extended playoff run, relatively than as he’s struggling in his first take a look at Triple-A pitching. Martín Maldonado wound up taking part in in additional World Collection than Futures Video games, in spite of everything.
If the archetype for the glory days of Cardinals participant growth was somebody like Thomas Saggese, projected as a utilityman with a shot to outplay his bodily instruments with really feel and adaptableness, it would shock a lot of the web baseball neighborhood to see how a lot of the progress right here is rooted in standout physicality. Raimiel Rodriguez and Yairo Padilla’s energy potential and the long-levered velocity of Chen-Wei Lin mark the worldwide operation, which not so way back produced Sandy Alcantara, Randy Arozarena and the late Oscar Taveras, beginning to hum once more. He’s a home draftee, however right here’s the place the expansion of Joshua Baez’s hit instrument is related to the model of hitters this division has landed with frequency, as a result of his mix of physicality with a light-weight monitor file upon getting into professional ball had a decidedly worldwide taste. Even Leonardo Bernal, who doesn’t essentially have a standout offensive instrument, is a massively sturdy human being who has seen his baseball ability mature within the Cardinals system.
The topline investments in energy hitting outfielders within the 2023 draft are usually not monitoring effectively, with Chase Davis, Travis Honeyman and Zach Levenson all faltering. To the extent that the draft class is redeemed, it’s a credit score to their pitching growth, the place each Mathews and Ixan Henderson have loved energy and velocity progress that has flipped their beforehand vanilla finesse lefty profiles. If that’s a repeatable trick, it’s a helpful one which makes Brycen Mautz’s combat to remain within the rotation extra compelling, and provides an additional aspect to trace as Cooper Hjerpe and Sem Robberse make their return from Tommy John surgical procedure subsequent season.
This isn’t a juggernaut system, the place the core of a future contender is wholly contained inside. However what the most important league membership’s 2025 efficiency suggests is that such a groundswell isn’t fairly wanted. If the ask is extra within the realm of supplementing mid-market ranges of spending to construct an NL Central contender, and it seems like their transient dip into choosing close to the entrance of the draft has already landed a possible star in Wetherholt, then this expertise crop is a greater run of pitching well being away from being as much as the duty.
Possibly a whole lot of orgs really feel they’re a greater run of pitching well being from being top-of-the-line regarded methods within the sport. However after Bloom was excised from Boston earlier than he may oversee a trio of top-end prospects make their debut, strolling right into a state of affairs with 5 50 FV varieties current is a pleasant comfort prize.