Re-ranking of Cardinals’ top prospects reflects the changes occurring in the organization

By Rob Rains

Anybody wanting to gauge how the rebuilding of the Cardinals organization is going in the first year under Chaim Bloom should needs to take a look at the updated rankings of the top minor-league prospects in the organization.

Eleven of the 26 players on this list were not in the organization at this time last year.

Of the 11 newcomers, three were selected in this year’s amateur draft. Three came in the deadline trades earlier this month with the Brewers and Diamondbacks. Four came in trades last winter and one was signed as an international free agent in January.

There are only nine players on this year’s list who were among the 25 players ranked a year ago. Five players on the 2025 list reached the majors this season so they are now ineligible for these rankings – JJ Wetherholt, Quinn Mathews, Jimmy Crooks, Blaze Jordan and Brycen Mautz.

There is a new player at the top spot on the list, replacing Wetherholt. Ten players have dropped off this list from a year ago; not because of anything they did wrong but simply because they have been edged out by some of the players that Bloom and his lieutenants have acquired since last summer.

Not making the list this year, and where they were ranked a year ago, were Tink Hence (6^th), Chen-Wei Lin (11^th), Keiverson Ramirez (15^th), Brannell Franco (16^th), Kenly Hunter (17^th) Andrew Dutkanych IV (19^th), Nate Dohm (20^th) Leonel Sequera (21^st), Braden Davis (22nd) and Chas Davis (24^th).

Another player, left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe – making his way back through the system after Tommy John surgery and a couple of injury-filled years – reached his 25^th birthday and is no longer eligible for these rankings.

Six players who are ranked this year were in the organization a year ago but didn’t make the list. That includes outfielder Won-Bin Cho, who is ranked again this year after missing the list in 2025.

This is the 11^th annual prospect rankings compiled by STLSportsPage.com following the amateur draft and trading deadline. The rankings are based on a player’s potential for major-league success, not how close he might be to the majors.

Five of the players are on the Triple A roster at Memphis, including rehabbing pitcher Tekoah Roby. Ten are at Double A Springfield; two are at high Class A Peoria; five are at low Class A Palm Beach; three are assigned to the rookie Florida Complex League team and one is on the roster of the Dominican Summe League Cardinals.

Ten of the players were selected by the Cardinals in the amateur draft; seven were signed as amateur international free agents and nine were acquired in trades. The list consists of eight right-handed pitchers, two lefthanders and one switch-pitcher; two catchers, eight outfielders, four infielders and one first baseman. There are nine players still in their teens on the list.

This year’s list consists of 26 players because it is 2026. At the end of the list is an extra “player to watch” from each of the Cardinals’ six farm teams.

Here is the 2026 STLSportsPage.com’s re-ranking of the top 26 prospects in the Cardinals organization. All statistics are through games of Aug. 11.

1. Rainiel Rodriguez

Last year’s ranking: 5

It was just over two years ago when a 17-year-old catcher showed up at the Cardinals’ complex in the Dominican Republic for a tryout. Team officials didn’t know much about Rainiel Rodriguez then, but the entire baseball world knows about him now. In just his second full season in the farm system, the now 19-year-old Rodriguez has already reached Double A and has more than held his own, despite being one of the youngest players at that level in the game. Rodriguez has not only established himself as the best prospect in the Cardinals’ organization but has become one of the top prospects in the game. Combined between Peoria and Springfield, Rodriguez has demonstrated his future power potential with 18 homers, 14 of them since he was promoted to Springfield, to go along with a .293 average in 63 Double A games. He is also earning praise for his work behind the plate, his high baseball IQ, maturity and leadership skills. Rodriguez won’t turn 20 until January.

Major-league ETA: September 2027

2. Joshua Baez

Last year’s ranking: 10

After a breakout season in 2025, Baez moved up to Triple A this season and has only increased his offensive performance. A second-round pick in 2021, Baez dropped off this list in 2024 after a couple of rough seasons but has regained and improved his prosect status. Now 23, the right-handed hitting outfielder has popped 33 homers and driven in 87 runs, leading the organization in both categories, while also stealing 20 bases. All that is keeping him from a promotion to the major leagues is waiting for the deadline to pass to ensure that Baez will retain his rookie status for 2027.

Major-league ETA: August 2026

 3. Liam Doyle

Last year’s ranking: 2

 The left-handed Doyle made only a handful of appearances last season after being drafted in the first round, the fifth overall pick, out of Tennessee. He has spent all of this season at Double A Springfield, primarily working to develop his secondary pitches to go along with his 100-mph fastball. Known as a fiery competitor, Doyle has struck out 100 batters in 76 innings this season and has progressed as the season has gone along. In five starts since the first of July, the 22-year-old Doyle has allowed five earned runs in 25 innings with 29 strikeouts. To read more about Doyle CLICK HERE

Major-league ETA: September 2027

4. Tanner Franklin

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

A teammate of Doyle’s at Tennessee, Franklin was pitching out of the bullpen in college but Cardinals’ scouts saw enough to project that he could be a starter and selected him in the third round of last year’s draft with that goal in mind. Franklin has made that bet come off this season, recently earning a promotion to Springfield. The 22-year-old righthander struck out 91 batters in 72 2/3 innings for Peoria before his promotion. In his first start at Double A on  Aug. 7, Franklin allowed one earned run and had seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings at San Antonio.

Major-league ETA: September 2027

5. Jurrangelo Cijntje

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

The Cardinals acquired the switch-pitcher Cijntje, 23, as part of the trade that sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners in February. While believing that he has a higher ceiling from the right side, the Cardinals have found selective opportunities to let Cijntje also work on pitching from the left side, first during his time at Springfield and since he was promoted to Memphis. Combined between the two levels, Cijntje has struck out an organization-leading 121 batters in 98 1/3 innings over 21 starts. He was the first-round pick by the Mariners in the 2024 draft out of Mississippi State. To read more about Cijntje CLICK HERE

Major-league ETA: 2027

6. Leo Bernal

Last year’s ranking: 4

The switch-hitting catcher moved up to Memphis this season and has hit for a higher average (.282) while already matching most of his offensive totals from 2025 at Double A with a month left in the season. Bernal, a 22-year-old native of Panama, also has played some first base but the Cardinals are still committed to having catcher remain his primary position and are pleased with his defensive progress this season. He also earns praise for his makeup, work ethic and leadership skills.

Major-league ETA: Septembe 2026

7. Trevor Condon

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

The first-round pick in this year’s amateur draft out of high school in Georgia, the 18-year-old Condon impressed the Cardinals with his enthusiasm and attitude as much as he did with his baseball IQ and talent. Assistant GM Randy Flores even bestowed him with the nickname “Tigger” because of how he was bouncing all over the field at the team’s tryout day. A bat-to-ball outfielder who plays very aggressively in the field, the Cardinals believe he has the skill set to remain in center field. He has yet to play in an official game in the organization but has been working out with the Complex League team in Florida since the draft.

Major-league ETA: 2030

8. Alexander Frias

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

An 18-year-old outfielder, Frias was one of the two players the Cardinals acquired in the trade deadline deal with the Brewers. Signed by Milwaukee as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, the left-handed hitting Frias had a .441 average in the rookie Arizona Complex League, then moved up to low Class A and is now playing at that level for Palm Beach, making him one of the younger players in that league. The Cardinals believe he will show more power as he gets older, as well as continuing to hit for average, projecting more as a middle-of-the-order bat.

Major-league ETA: 2030

9. Tai Peete

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

The third consecutive outfielder on this list who was not in the organization last year, Peete – who turned 21 on Tuesday – also joined the Cardinals as part of the Donovan trade. He missed part of this season with an illness while at Peoria, but he hit. 300 with 10 homers in 42 games and also hit for the cycle – twice – before he was promoted to Springfield, where he is now part of an all-prospect outfield. A left-handed hitter, Peete was a competitive balance selection by the Mariners in the 2023 draft. He is a top-of-the-order hitter with the ability to steal bases and also has enough defensive skills to stick in center field. To read more about Peete CLICK HERE

Major-league ETA: 2028

10. Tekoah Roby

Last year’s ranking: 7

Roby was on his way to establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization last year before having to undergo Tommy John surgery in July. Roby, now 24, already had missed parts of two seasons because of arm injuries. The righthander has spent this summer rehabbing at the Cardinals’ complex in Jupiter and is almost ready to face hitters but likely won’t be fully recovered and able to pitch in games before next spring. That’s when his status, like many other young players, could be affected by a lockout.

Major-league ETA: 2027

 11. Tegan Kuhns

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

 After drafting Doyle and Franklin out of Tennessee last season, the Cardinals went back to Knoxville to select Kuhns with the 32^nd overall pick in this year’s draft. A draft-eligible sophomore, the 21-year-old righthander is not expected to make his professional debut until next spring after his heavy workload this spring (81 innings) for the Volunteers, when he struck out 106 batters and only walked 16.

Major-league ETA: 2029

 12. Brandon Clarke

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

Part of the return in the trade last November that sent Sonny Gray to the Red Sox, Clarke missed the first half of this season while recovering from surgery on his left shoulder to correct circulation and numbness issues in his arm. Clarke, 23, threw a pitch that was clocked at 103 miles an hour in a rehab game at Palm Beach before he was assigned to Peoria. He has only pitched in five games this season and might be a candidate to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. In his first start at Peoria on Aug 8, Clarke struck out seven batters in 4 1/3 innings.

Major-league ETA: 2028

13. Yhoiker Fajardo

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

A native of Venezuela, the 19-year-old righthander was obtained by the Cardinals in the Willson Contreras trade with the Red Sox last winter. He struck out 106 batters and walked only 24 in 76 1/3 innings at Peoria before he was promoted to Double A, becoming one of the youngest pitchers in the game at that level. In his first start at Springfield Fajardo struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings.

Major-league ETA: 2029

 14. Jesus Baez

Last year’s ranking: 8

 A 21-year-old shortstop, Baez is like many players on this list – he began the season at Peoria then moved up to Springfield, and between the two levels he has hit 30 home runs, the second most in the organization behind Joshua Baez, and driven in 80 runs.  He has also hit for a higher average in Double A (.281). Baez was acquired in the trade with the Mets in 2025 that sent Ryan Helsley to New York. A potential move to third base could be in his future.

Major-league ETA: 2028

15. Emanuel Luna

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

 Luna was the Cardinals’ top international amateur free agent signing this year, receiving a $2.3 million bonus in January. Just 17, the right-handed hitting outfielder already stands 6-2 and weighs 200 pounds. Injuries limited him to only 20 at-bats in the Dominican Summer League this year, but he hit three homers and posted a .450 average in his brief appearances.

Major-league ETA: 2031

 16. Josiah Ragsdale

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

 The other left-handed hitting outfielder acquired at the deadline from the Brewers, Ragsdale has put up impressive numbers in his first full minor-league season, a combined 21 homers, 22 doubles, 54 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 92 games. The Brewers’ pick in the seventh round of the 2025 draft out of Boston College, the 22-year-old Ragsdale homered in his first at-bat for the Cardinals in Springfield.

Major-league ETA: 2028

17. Yairo Padilla

Last year’s ranking: 9

Another switch-hitting shortstop, the native of the Dominican Republic who turned 19 in June got a late start to this season because of a shoulder injury. Since joining Palm Beach, Padilla has hit three homers, driven in 21 runs and stolen 10 bases in 25 games.  He might be a candidate to play in the Arizona Fall League.

Major-league ETA: 2029

18. Daniel Eagan

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

 One of the two pitchers obtained from the Diamondbacks in the deadline deal for Lars Nootbaar, Eagen is a 23-year-old righthander. He was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft out of Presbyterian, where he set the school’s strikeout record. Assigned to Springfield, Eagen worked six innings in his debut on Aug. 8, allowing three hits while striking out six. Combined with his 20 starts at Amarillo, Eagen has struck out 115 batters in 93 1/3 innings while issuing 36 walks.

Major-league ETA: 2028

 19. Xavier Cruz

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

 A 20-year-old righthander, Cruz’s season ended in June when he had the internal brace surgery on his right elbow. Before he was hurt, Cruz split time between the rookie Complex League and Palm Beach, striking out 38 batters in 21 innings. Cruz signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2023.

Major-league ETA: 2031

 20. Jacob Odle

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

 Selected by the Cardinals in the 14^th round of the 2023 season out of a California junior college, the 6-foot-5 Odle missed much of his first two pro seasons because of Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old righthander has split this season between Palm Beach and Peoria, striking out 113 batters in 78 innings, leading the organization in strikeouts per nine innings.

Major-league ETA: 2029

 21. Won-bin Cho

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

A native of South Korea, Cho was number 6 on this list in 2024 but failed to make these rankings a year ago after two rough seasons. Still only 23, Cho seems to be following in the footsteps of Joshua Baez in re-emerging as a prospect. Between Peoria and Springfield Cho has hit 19 homers, 65 RBIs and has stolen 28 bases. To read more about Cho CLICK HERE

Major-league ETA: 2028

 22. Ryan Mitchell

Last year’s ranking: 13

Despite the fact he is only hitting .217 in his first full pro season, the 19-year-old Mitchell has found a way to lead the organization with 34 stolen bases to go along with 11 home runs. Mitchell, the second-round pick in the 2025 draft out of high school in Tennessee, leads the organization in walks (88) but also has struck out 137 times, the most in the organization.

Major-league ETA: 2030

23. Ixan Henderson

Last year’s ranking:14

A strain of the flexor tendon in his right arm sidelined Henderson until July and has limited him to five appearances so far this season. The 24-year-old righthander, the Cardinals’ eighth-round pick in 2023 out of Fresno State. led the Texas League with a 2.59 ERA in 2025. He made his Memphis debut on Aug. 9, working 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Major-league ETA: 2028

24. Rocco Maniscalco

Last year’s ranking: Not in the organization

 After he graduated from high school a year early and reclassified for this year’s draft, the Cardinals selected the 17-year-old Maniscalco in the second round, the 50^th overall pick. A shortstop at his Alabama high school, scouts believe Maniscalco will add strength and power to his game, which already features above-average skills in the field. Like Condon, he is working out with the Complex League team in Florida but has yet to appear in a game.

Major-league ETA: 2031

25. Sebastian Dos Santos

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

 Signed out of Venezuela in 2025, the 19-year-old shortstop split his first season in the U.S. this year between the Complex League and Palm Beach, displaying a combination of power and speed with 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He is a switch-hitter with a lot of room for physical growth and development.

Major-league ETA: 2031

26. Jack Gurevitch

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

 A third-round pick in the 2025 draft out of San Diego, the 22-year-old first baseman began this season at Palm Beach, moved up to Peoria and then was promoted again to Springfield. Gurevitch has the most hits in the organization this year and has the third-most home runs (24) between his stops at the three levels.

Major-league ETA: 2029

 Here are the additional “players to watch” for each of the Cardinals’ six farm teams:

Memphis – Mason Molina, a 23-year-old lefthander, was acquired in a deadline deal last year from Texas. He has split this season between Double A and Triple A, recording 106 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings.

Springfield – The other pitcher coming from the Diamondbacks in the Nootbaar trade was Sandro Santana, a 21-year-old lefthanded reliever. In 33 appearances before and after the trade he has struck out 75 batters in 48 2/3 innings.

Peoria – After setting the Palm Beach franchise record with 15 home runs, to go along with 21 stolen bases, the 21-year-old Yordalin Pena, a right-handed hitting outfielder, was promoted to Peoria in early August.

Palm Beach – Another teenage shortstop, 18-year-old Miquel Hernandez was promoted to Palm Beach after posting a .969 OPS in the rookie Complex League, hitting nine home runs. He was signed out of Venezuela as part of the 2025 international class.

Complex League – A big season in the DSL in 2025 earned Kenly Hunter a spot on last year’s prospect list. He moved to the U.S. this year and the 18-year-old outfielder from Nicaragua once again had more walks than strikeouts, posting a .266 average with 17 stolen bases.

Dominican Summer League – Could Sebastian Rojas be the next catcher in the Cardinals’ pipeline? The 17-year-old, signed in January out of Venezuela, has a .356 average with five homers and 28 RBIs in 28 games.

Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains

Photos of Rainiel Rodriguez by PJ Maigi courtesy of the Springfield Cardinals

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