Re: Minor League News 2026

[CardsofSTL]

Blake Aita with 5 hits and 4 runs in the first inning

Jesus Baez hit a 2 run dinger to Cf in response though.

Hope you are having a good time ghost

[ghostrunner]

Good time but kind of a sloppy game. On both sides, but I guess that’s to be expected. Bad choices, bad throws, passed balls. Springfield lost 15-8 and they were given a few gifts too. 7 walks from the other team.

Rainiel is a thick dude. Which I knew, but I’ve heard people talk about him playing first and that seems even less likely having seen him.

Campos, the other catcher, is 5’7” and was DHing. His walk up music is “I Wish I Was a Little Bit Taller”

Jack Gurevitch also homered right at the end. Looks like that might be his first since coming up from Peoria. Saladin looked the best of the pitchers I saw but also gave up 2 runs on a homer.

Talked to the girlfriend of Luke Pelzer, who plays for NW Arkansas, for a little while. She sat in front of us. Talked about him and a couple other Royals minor leaguers and other stadiums she’s been to.

[Magneto2.0]

Baseball America updated rankings has the Cardinals as the number 2 farm system in baseball behind the Rays.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Baseball America updated rankings has the Cardinals as the number 2 farm system in baseball behind the Rays.

To Bloom's credit IMO. Remind ourselves of this during every bullpen meltdown. The cavalry is coming.

[st.lewis11]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... prospects/

BA Top 30 with grades and summary

| #| Name | Age | B-T | BA Grade/Risk | Adjusted Grade | Scouting Grades |
| The Future |

1 | Rainiel Rodriguez | 19 | R-R | 60/Average | 50 | Hit: 60 | Power: 65 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
Rodriguez is one of the highest upside prospects in the game. If it all clicks, he could be an all-star-level bat with average catcher defense.

2 | Joshua Baez | 22 | R-R | 60/High | 45 | Hit: 55 | Power: 65 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60
Baez broke out in a major way in 2025 and looks like he could debut for the Cardinals in 2026. He’s a potential above-average regular with the potential for 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

3 | Liam Doyle | 21 | R-L | 55/Average | 45 | Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 55 | Split: 55 | Sweeper: 45 | Control: 50
Doyle is a fast-moving college lefthander who could pitch his way to the middle of the Cardinals’ rotation by mid-2026.

4 | Alexander Frias | 18 | L-R | 60/High | 45 | Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 70
Frias has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the lower levels of the Brewers’ farm system. He will make an even bigger name for himself nationally if he continues to perform well in Low-A.

5 | Leonardo Bernal | 22 | S-R | 55/Average | 45 | Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
Bernal looks like a rotation catcher who will see most of his starts against lefthanded pitchers. Improvements to his lefthanded swing and blocking ability could push him into everyday catcher territory.

6 | Tanner Franklin | 21 | R-R | 55/Average | 45 | Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 40 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 50 | Sweeper: 55 | Control: 45
The Cardinals plan to deploy Franklin as a starter in 2026. Equipped with plus stuff and improved command, he could successfully make the jump into the rotation.

7 | Trevor Condon | 18 | L-R | 55/Average | 45 | Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50
Condon immediately becomes one of the better prospects in the Cardinals’ system. He could end up as a dynamic center fielder.

8 | Yhoiker Fajardo | 19 | R-R | 50/Average | 40 | Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Fajardo should compete for a spot in the High-A Peoria rotation as a 19-year-old in 2026. He is more of a well-rounded back-end starter than a standout star, but his polish gives him a big league ETA of 2027 or 2028.

9 | Tegan Kuhns | 20 | S-R | 50/Average | 40 | Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
Kuhns is a high-probability starter with physical projection whose upside will depend on his secondary development and command.

10 | Tai Peete | 20 | L-R | 60/Extreme | 40 | Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
Peete is making more contact, if he continues to make those gains he has some of the highest upside of any player in the Cardinals system.

11 | Quinn Mathews | 25 | L-L | 45/Mild | 40 | Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45
The 2025 season is one Mathews would like to forget. Despite the struggles, he looks like a viable long-term No. 4 starter who could reach St. Louis as soon as 2026.

12 | Jurrangelo Cijntje | 22 | S-S | 55/High | 40 | Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
The Cardinals plan on developing Cijntje as a switch-pitching starter, something the Mariners had given up on. He’s one of the most unique pitching prospects in the game.

13 | Tekoah Roby | 24 | R-R | 60/Extreme | 40 | Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Roby has the makings of a potential midrotation starter, but he’ll need to maintain health.

14 | Yairo Padilla | 18 | S-R | 55/High | 40 | Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
Padilla is a player with a lot of variance. He could be an everyday shortstop, but it’s going to take years to gel. He should make his full-season debut in 2026.

15 | Jesus Baez | 21 | R-R | 50/Average | 40 | Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
Baez is a future third baseman with a good balance of contact hitting and average power.

16 | Brandon Clarke | 23 | L-L | 60/Extreme | 40 | Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Sweeper: 55 | Control: 40
Clarke has a wide range of outcomes from midrotation starter to potential dominant power reliever.

17 | Miguel Hernandez | 17 | R-R | 55/High | 40 | Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Hernandez looks like a slugging third baseman long term who will run high walk rates.

18 | Josiah Ragsdale | 22 | L-L | 50/Average | 40 | Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 40
If Ragsdale continues to progress offensively, his defense at a premium position could help him carve out a big league role.

19 | Jacob Odle | 22 | R-R | 50/Average | 40 | Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
Odle has fourth starter upside but the stuff to make the jump to the bullpen if needed.

20 | Andrew Williamson | 20 | L-L | 50/Average | 40 | Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Williamson is a lefty bat with well-rounded skills and a solid college track record.

21 | Sebastian Dos Santos | 18 | S-R | 55/High | 40 | Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
Dos Santos could develop into an above-average bat-first infielder with a nice blend of contact, on-base skills and power.

22 | Ixan Henderson | 24 | L-L | 45/Mild | 40 | Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 30 | Control: 50
Henderson looks like a soon-to-the-majors No. 5 starter with limited upside. The 2026 season and his first taste of Triple-A will be a test of his fastball quality.

23 | Xavier Cruz | 20 | R-R | 55/High | 40 | Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 45
Cruz has huge stuff and he’s made steady gains and could develop into a high-end backend starter. If he falters as a starter he has the stuff for high leverage relief.

24 | Rocco Maniscalco | 17 | S-R | 55/Extreme | 35 | Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70
If Maniscalco improves his contact skills, the rest of his toolset could make him an MLB regular.

25 | Daniel Eagen | 23 | R-R | 45/Average | 35 | Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
Eagen should reach the majors as a starter, but whether he remains in that role could depend on any number of factors, including whether his stuff improves, his repertoire becomes deeper and how he commands his arsenal. He could have the ceiling of a No. 4 starter, though his stuff would profile in a late-inning role. Either way, he is looking like a nice scouting and player development success story for the organization.

26 | Emanuel Luna | 17 | R-R | 55/Extreme | 35 | Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Luna will debut in the Dominican Summer League later this year and will be one of the top prospects in the DSL.

27 | Deniel Ortiz | 21 | R-R | 45/Average | 35 | Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55
Ortiz is a second-division regular with a quality hit tool and defensive questions.

28 | Ryan Mitchell | 19 | L-R | 50/High | 35 | Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50
Mitchell has the tools to develop into an above-average everyday regular if it all clicks.

29 | Sandro Santana | 21 | L-L | 45/Average | 35 | Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45
Santana is a pure relief prospect who could be pitching leverage innings for the Cardinals by mid 2027.

30 | Cooper Hjerpe | 25 | L-L | 50/High | 35 | Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50
Hjerpe is a deceptive lefthander who still has a chance of developing into a No. 5 starter.

[Magneto2.0]

Looks like they didn't update rankings or pre-season commentary

[st.lewis11]

Looks like they didn't update rankings or pre-season commentary

Are you sure? The list shows some of our recent draft picks and deadline pickups.

[Magneto2.0]

Looks like they didn't update rankings or pre-season commentary

Are you sure? The list shows some of our recent draft picks and deadline pickups.

After review you may be correct on the rankings being updated but the commentary looks to be from before the season started. A few that stand out:

Doyle is a fast-moving college lefthander who could pitch his way to the middle of the Cardinals’ rotation by mid-2026.

We're way passed middle of the season

Frias has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the lower levels of the Brewers’ farm system. He will make an even bigger name for himself nationally if he continues to perform well in Low-A.

Don't acknowledge him being traded to the Cardinals system

The 2025 season is one Mathews would like to forget. Despite the struggles, he looks like a viable long-term No. 4 starter who could reach St. Louis as soon as 2026.

Matthews has already had a bounce back and it's not acknowledge, making me think it's from before the season started.

[st.lewis11]

No worries. I was just now taking a closer look, and I'm curious why Won-Bin Cho isn't included in the top 30. His batting numbers look impressive at Springfield

[Magneto2.0]