2020 Prospect Depth Chart: St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals' system has lived and died by the draft, and while a breakout campaign from Dylan Carlson and encouraging returns from Nolan Gorman and Andrew Knizner are huge, there's no question the system is feeling the effects of some blown picks. First rounders Nick Plummer (2015) and Delvin Perez (2016) are looking like busts, and 2018 competitive balance pick Griffin Roberts had a discouraging first full season. That said, some shrewd moves have also paid huge dividends, as Angel Rondon, Tommy Parsons, Alex Fagalde, Andrew Warner, and Justin Toerner all figure into the team's future despite signing for virtually no money, and still low-profile acquisitions of guys like Jhon Torres, Ivan Herrera, Andre Pallante, and Jack Ralston look great in hindsight. It's a thinner system than it has been recently, but the big two power bats of Carlson and Gorman, as well as a slew of upper minors back end starter types, look to make their impact in St. Louis soon.

Affiliates: AAA Memphis Redbirds, AA Springfield Cardinals, High A Palm Beach Cardinals, Class A Peoria Chiefs, short season State College Spikes, rookie level Johnson City Cardinals, complex level GCL and DSL Cardinals

Catcher
- Andrew Knizner (2020 Age: 25): Yadier Molina made it very tough on Carson Kelly, now with the Diamondbacks, and he's doing the same thing to Andrew Knizner (first N is silent). The seventh round pick out of North Carolina State in 2016 reached the majors in 2019, slashing .276/.357/.463 with 12 home runs and a 37/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 66 games at AAA Memphis while also hitting .226/.293/.377 with a pair of home runs in 18 major league games. Though he packs a lot of strength in his 6'1" frame, Knizner is plenty happy just spraying line drives around the field and that makes him extremely tough to strike out, which in turn will help his bat play up at the major league level. He's also a solid defender who should improve while learning behind Molina in St. Louis, and he could eventually develop enough power to hit 15 home runs per season. Knizner is the rare catching prospect that actually projects as a true starter at the major league level, and once he figures out a way to get around Molina, either by playing a different position for a few years, by going to another team, or just eating away at his playing time, he should be moderately productive on both sides of the ball.
- Julio Rodriguez (2020 Age: 22-23): Rodriguez lacks the impact at the plate of a guy like Knizner, but his superior defense alone gives him a shot at being a big league backup. In 2019, he slashed .268/.311/.393 with eight home runs and a 68/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 85 games at High A Palm Beach and AA Springfield, both pitcher-friendly environments, so he doesn't completely lack sock in his bat. Rodriguez employs a contact-oriented approach that limits his walks but also his strikeouts, which should help him handle big league pitching as a hitter, though he probably won't hit more than 5-10 home runs per season. The Cardinals have a lot of depth behind the plate, so I see it as pretty likely that one of their young catchers gets traded, but Rodriguez's superior glove gives him the chance to be a long-term backup in St. Louis.
- Ivan Herrera (2020 Age: 19-20): Right behind Rodriguez is Ivan Herrera, a teenager who slashed .284/.374/.405 with nine home runs and a 72/40 strikeout to walk ratio over 87 games at Class A Peoria and High A Palm Beach. Herrera employs a very advanced approach at the plate for his age, earning a promotion up to High A shortly after his 19th birthday and continuing to get on base well in his small sample size. With his quick, simple swing, he could add some power without sacrificing too much in the way of contact and has a chance to challenge Knizner for a starting spot down the road. He's a work in progress defensively, but he also doesn't turn 20 until June, so he's ahead of schedule regardless. I'd call him the better prospect to Rodriguez, even with the discrepancy in current defense, as he's rapidly improving at a young age.
- Keep an eye on: Jose Godoy, Pedro Pages, Aaron Antonini

Corner Infield
- Nolan Gorman (2020 Age: 19-20): Gorman was a first round pick out of a Phoenix high school in 2018, then his sensational run through the Appalachian League (11 HR, .350/.443/.664) put him firmly on the prospect map. He came back down to Earth a bit in 2019, slashing .248/.326/.439 with 15 home runs and a 152/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 games at Class A Peoria and High A Palm Beach, though he was facing older competition. Gorman has a ton of power from the left side of the plate, true 30-40 homer pop that has never been questioned by evaluators, but the nicest thing to see so far has been a hit tool that was more advanced than expected. Gorman at times struggled with his approach at the plate on the prep circuit, and the thought was that his long swing might inhibit his ability to get to his power right away in pro ball. He indeed has struck out in 29% of his plate appearances so far in the minors, though his assignments have been aggressive and he has gotten to his power for 32 home runs in 188 career games, so I'm not too worried about the swing and miss. I think he'll settle in as a guy who hits 30-35 home runs annually with decent on-base percentages. He's been improving at third base, and while he'll never be a plus defender there, he might be able to stick rather than moving over to first base. The bat will profile at either position.
- Luken Baker (2020 Age: 23): Baker, a slugging first baseman who was drafted in the second round out of TCU in 2018, saw his stock drop a notch in 2019. This year, he slashed .244/.327/.390 with ten home runs and a 112/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 122 games at High A Palm Beach, which was a bit light for a guy whose power will have to carry him up to the majors. Baker is a huge guy, listed at 6'4" and 265 pounds, though his power manifested more in hitting a lot of doubles (32) than home runs (10) in 2019. It's harder to get balls out of Florida State League parks, so if you give Baker the benefit of the doubt, he might get his power stroke back a bit in the Texas League in 2020. His strong plate discipline should help his bat play up, though at this point he might look more like a platoon bat than as a true starting first baseman.
- Elehuris Montero (2020 Age: 21): It's been a wild ride for Montero, who broke out by slashing .315/.371/.504 in A ball in 2018, but he followed it up with a nightmare 2019 in which he slashed .188/.235/.317 with seven home runs and a 74/14 strikeout to walk ratio over 59 games at AA Springfield, also missing time with a broken hand. The strike zone completely got away from him, and he struggled to make contact against advanced AA pitching. He still got to his power somewhat, but it's clear that he'll need to repeat the level in order to get on base in addition to hitting for power. He's not a great defender and may have to move to first base, which would hurt his chances of starting, and the tough year might mean a future as a platoon/bench bat. If he bounces back, though, his feel for the barrel and power could help him hit 15-20 home runs per season with solid on-base percentages.
- Keep an eye on: Evan Mendoza, Yariel Gonzalez, Juan Yepez, Malcom Nunez

Middle Infield
- Edmundo Sosa (2020 Age: 24): Sosa spent most of 2019 at AAA Memphis, slashing .291/.335/.466 with 17 home runs and a 96/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 118 games, and he's also slashed .200/.385/.200 over eleven major league games. Those 17 home runs are more than likely a product of the homer-happy Pacific Coast League, as he fits better into the 5-10 home run range with the potential to pop for up to 15 in a season, but he makes easy contact and can find the barrel consistently against high level pitching, giving him a chance to stick in the majors. His aggressive approach limits his walks, and overall it will probably keep his offensive profile low enough that he'll have trouble starting, but he's a slick defender that should be able to handle both middle infield spots well and make for a valuable utility man in the very near future.
- Ramon Urias (2020 Age: 25-26): Urias was signed out of the Mexican League in 2018, and in 2019 he slashed .262/.362/.419 with ten home runs and an 81/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 103 games, mostly at AAA Memphis. At only 5'10" and 150 pounds, he probably saw the same effect as Sosa when it came to his home run output, and he probably fits best at 5-10 per season in the majors. Urias stands out for his plate discipline, as he makes easy contact and should have no problem hitting in the majors, but he's unlikely to hit for a ton of impact and he has some competition if he wants to crack it as a utility infielder in 2020. To me, he's likely behind Sosa on the depth chart and he also has Max Schrock and Kramer Robertson to think about.
- Kramer Robertson (2020 Age: 25): Robertson, a fourth round pick as an LSU senior in 2017, has moved relatively quickly through the minors and in 2019 he slashed .231/.360/.365 with eleven home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 85/66 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games at AA Springfield and AAA Memphis. He's not a big guy at 5'10", but he has wiry strength that helps him produce moderate power and his excellent plate discipline helps him get to it relatively consistently. He's an extremely scrappy player who plays good defense and should be able to play his way up to the majors, though the Cardinals' utility infield scene is crowded at this point and Sosa probably has the leg up.
- Keep an eye on: Max Schrock, Kramer Robertson, Delvin Perez, Mateo Gil

Outfield
- Dylan Carlson (2020 Age: 21): The Cardinals drafted Carlson at the end of the first round out of a Sacramento-area high school in 2016, and they subsequently spent 2016 (.251/.313/.404), 2017 (.240/.342/.347), and 2018 (.246/.348/.390) waiting for him to break out. He finally did in 2019, slashing .292/.372/.542 with 26 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a 116/58 strikeout to walk ratio over 126 games at AA Springfield and AAA Memphis, enough to push himself into the conversation with Nolan Gorman for the best prospect in the system. He's always had two things going for him at the plate, and those have been strong plate discipline and natural raw power, but he finally began to tap that power consistently in 2019 with a new approach that saw him try to drive the ball in the air more often. We've seen this a lot, as more and more minor and major leaguers are finding success by trying to lift the ball and get it off the ground. Now with his power, patience, and good defense in right field, we could see Carlson crack the Cardinals roster in 2020 and even try to pry a starting spot away from whoever takes over for Marcell Ozuna. In the end, Carlson projects for maybe 25 home runs per season with good on-base percentages and a few stolen bases.
- Randy Arozarena (2020 Age: 25): Arozarena was a highly touted Cuban import who signed for $1.25 million in in 2016, then broke out in upper minors in 2019. This year, he slashed .344/.431/.571 with 15 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a 71/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 92 games at AA Springfield and AAA Memphis, then hit .300/.391/.500 with a home run and a pair of stolen bases in a 19 game debut with the Cardinals. At 5'11", he doesn't have a ton of raw pop, but he knows how to get to it and has hit double digit home runs all three years in the minors. That's more due to his feel for the barrel, which has enabled him to limit his strikeouts and consistently make hard contact, leading to high batting averages, albeit without a ton of walks. The Cardinals' outfield plan is up in the air for 2020 with the departure of Marcell Ozuna, and while you know top prospect Dylan Carlson is gunning for that spot, Arozarena has more experience at AAA and in the majors and is already on the 40 man roster. In all, I think both can start, with Arozarena projecting for maybe 15 home runs per season, a few stolen bases, and solid, batting average-driven on-base percentages.
- Justin Williams (2020 Age: 24): Williams was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the second round out of a south-central Louisiana high school way back in 2013, and he's since been traded twice in what's been a long road up. He originally went to the Rays in the Jeremy Hellickson trade after the 2014 season, then moved on to the Cardinals as part of the return for Tommy Pham in 2018. After grounding out in his only MLB at bat in 2018, Williams had a really up and down 2019, missing a lot of time with various injuries, slashing just .193/.246/.263 with one home run and a 17/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 17 games at AA Spingfield, then slashing .353/.437/.608 with seven home runs and a 30/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 36 games at AAA Memphis. He's got wiry strength that helps him produce average power, enough to hit 15-20 home runs annually in the majors if he can get to it, and he keeps his strikeouts reasonably low as well. If he hadn't missed so much time throughout his career to nagging injuries, he might already be a productive regular in the majors, but it's hard to gauge his ceiling when he's cracked 100 games just twice in seven pro seasons. He probably settles in as a bat-first fourth outfielder, one who can get on base and hit for some power, but if he stays healthy he has a shot at starting.
- Justin Toerner (2020 Age: 23-24): Toerner, a 28th round pick out of Cal State Northridge in 2018, is already looking like a steal. He hit .312/.410/.385 across three levels in his pro debut and reached High A, then kept on hitting in 2019 by slashing .253/.374/.379 with eleven home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 105/61 strikeout to walk ratio over 103 games at High A Palm Beach and AA Springfield. None of Toerner's tools stand out, which is part of why he dropped so far in the 2018 draft, but he does a little bit of everything and is sneaking up behind Carlson, Arozarena, and Williams as a potential fourth outfielder because of it. He started getting to his below average raw power more in 2019, and his patient approach at the plate enabled him to post a .403 on-base percentage in High A then a solid .338 mark in AA even as his bat slumped. I doubt Toerner is ever a full time starter for the Cardinals, but he's definitely a sleeper to watch.
- Jhon Torres (2020 Age: 20): Man, this kid is explosive and flat out fun to watch hit. He was acquired from the Indians in the Oscar Mercado trade in 2018, around which he tore up complex ball to the tune of a .321/.409/.525 line. Pushed all the way to Class A Peoria for 2019, he looked a bit overmatched and slashed just .167/.240/.212 with a 29/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 21 games, so the Cardinals dropped him back down to rookie level Johnson City, where he hit .286/.391/.527 with six home runs and a 36/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 games. Torres already has great raw power at 19 years old, and at 6'4", he could grow into even more down the line. He generates this power both from his strength and from a big leg kick, which leads to his share of swing and miss, but he also has enough feel for hitting and finding the barrel that he can limit the strikeouts and get to that power. He'll take another crack at Class A in 2020, and he has one of the higher ceilings in the system as a kid who could eventually hit 30+ home runs annually with a good arm in right field.
- Trejyn Fletcher (2020 Age: 19): Fletcher is a bit of a mystery for multiple reasons. He played high school ball in Portland, Maine, which is well off the beaten prospect path (the only Mainers I can think of in the major leagues are Ryan Flaherty and Charlie Furbush, not sure what it is with Maine baseball players and F last names), Maine's awful spring weather makes it really hard to see those prospects, and he reclassified in March from the 2020 draft to the more age-appropriate 2019 draft. He's an exceptional athlete who at this point is all projection and no track record, though his .244/.291/.375 slash line with four home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 76/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 games in the complex level Gulf Coast League and at rookie level Johnson City were better than expected. Fletcher has plenty of power and speed, giving him the chance to be a real asset on both sides of the ball, but his hit tool is entirely unproven and he needs a lot of mechanical changes in his short swing. His 43.4% strikeout rate in his pro debut is evidence of that, so it will be a few years before we really know what we're getting. The upside is fun to dream on, though, and it's definitely a plus that he managed to hit his way up to the Appalachian League at 18 years old.
- Keep an eye on: Conner Capel, Leandro Cedeno, Jonatan Machado, Diowill Burgos

Starting Pitching
- Genesis Cabrera (2020 Age: 23): Cabrera often looks like more of a reliever than a starter, but it's not known what direction the Cardinals will go with their fifth starter and that works in Cabrera's favor. In 2019, he had a 5.91 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and a 106/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 99 innings at hitter-friendly AAA Memphis, then put up a 4.87 ERA, a 1.67 WHIP, and a 19/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 20.1 innings in the majors. The 6'2" lefty has an explosive fastball that sits consistently in the mid 90's while touching higher, and he adds a whole slew of secondary pitches that have been inconsistent throughout his career. He's also been even more inconsistent with his command, so even at 23 years old, he could really turn out to be anything. If his profile remains as is, he might be able to stick as a #5 starter, though he's just a few adjustments away from becoming a #3/#4. Also highly possible is a career in the bullpen, where he can focus on a couple secondary pitches and not have to worry so much about his command, and his high-effort delivery might fit better there anyways.
- Jake Woodford (2020 Age: 23): Cabrera's primary competition for that fifth spot, if the Cardinals don't outsource it, will be Jake Woodford, a competitive balance pick out of a Tampa high school in 2015. Woodford spent 2019 in the homer-happy Pacific Coast League, posting a respectable 4.15 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, a 131/75 strikeout to walk ratio over 151.2 innings at AAA Memphis, numbers that look much better considering the context. His stuff is fairly light, with a low 90's fastball, a pair of decent breaking balls, and a changeup, and his command is decent but nothing to write home about. Woodford's highish walk rates are probably more a product of him trying to avoid the middle of the zone, as he's given up 40 home runs over the past two seasons due to that light stuff, but his feel for pitching is just good enough that he was able to limit the damage up in AAA and his durability makes him one of the more consistent arms in the system. His ceiling is probably that of a #5 starter but he could be that exactly in 2020.
- Tommy Parsons (2020 Age: 24): You can say Parsons improved his stock in 2019. Signed as an un-drafted free agent out of Division III Adrian College in Michigan in 2018, he had a nice run through the Appalachian League before getting sent to Class A Peoria at 23 years old to start 2019. What ensued was a meteoric rise through four minor league levels, as he posted a 3.53 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 148/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 165.2 innings at Peoria, High A Palm Beach, AA Springfield, and AAA Memphis. Those 165.2 innings led all minor leaguers, and that track record of durability extends back to his college days. Nothing jumps off the page with Parsons, who sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds three unspectacular secondary pitches, but his masterful control and exceptional feel for pitching help everything play up. The durability also does more than just keep him on the mound, as he's just as effective in the seventh and eighth inning as he is in the first, and I'd be curious to see his stats split by times through the order. His ceiling is that of a #4/#5 starter but he's just a really interesting pitcher.
- Angel Rondon (2020 Age: 22): Rondon has been the epitome of a sleeper prospect. I couldn't find the terms of his signing bonus online, but I'm sure it wasn't much since he signed as an 18 year old in January 2016 (most top prospects sign at 16 years old in July and August), and he's just quietly performed in the low minors without drawing much attention. That changed in 2019, when he had a 2.93 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 159/59 strikeout to walk ratio over 160 innings at High A Palm Beach and AA Springfield. He joined his teammate, Parsons, in being one of only seven minor league pitchers to reach 160 innings this year, using his solid three pitch mix and feel for pitching to carve through lineups. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a slider and a changeup, and while his command isn't pinpoint, it's around average and he really understands how to deploy his stuff. As a pitcher who tends to give up a lot of fly balls, it will be interesting to see how he fares with the juiced balls up in AAA and the majors, but 2019 was certainly an encouraging step forward and he now looks like a future #4 starter.
- Johan Oviedo (2020 Age: 22): Oviedo started the spring at High A Palm Beach, but after posting a 1.60 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 35/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 33.2 innings, he earned a quick promotion to AA Springfield. He wasn't quite as effective at the higher level, posting a 5.65 ERA, a 1.63 WHIP, and a 128/64 strikeout to walk ratio over 113 innings, but he was also only 21 years old in AA. Oviedo can sit in the low to mid 90's with his fastball while adding a slider and a changeup, the latter of which is very advanced for his age. At 6'6", he could grow into more velocity, but for now the focus needs to be on improving his command, which is below average at this point. He has the chance to become a #3 or #4 starter if he does, and that may require him to tone down his high effort delivery a bit. If not, he fits well as a reliever.
- Zack Thompson (2020 Age: 22): Thompson was the Cardinals' first round pick out of Kentucky in 2019, but if he stays healthy, he has the chance to move quickly. In his pro debut, he had a 3.52 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and a 23/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 15.1 innings between the complex level Gulf Coast League and High A Palm Beach, where he threw in relief after a long college season. He has the chance to be great value at the #19 overall pick, as nothing stands out in his game but everything is steadily improving and he has a track record of success in the SEC. He comes in with a low 90's fastball and a full set of secondary pitches, all of which are potential weapons that have remained pretty consistent, and his command steadily improved throughout his time at Kentucky and looked solid in his pro debut. I don't see him as a true ace, but the lefty has a very good shot at becoming a #3 starter if he can stay healthy.
- Andre Pallante (2020 Age: 21): Three rounds after Thompson, the Cardinals took UC Irvine righty Andre Pallante in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He, like Thompson, has the chance to be great value at this spot, and he already had a successful pro debut with a 2.78 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 38/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 35.2 innings at short season State College. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds three secondary pitches, and while none stand out as plus, he has good feel for pitching and commands everything fairly well. He's on the smaller side at six feet tall and has some effort in his delivery, which gives him some reliever risk, but his deep arsenal and command could help him stick in the rotation if he tones down that delivery just a little bit. I like Pallante as a sleeper prospect and I think he could be a #3 or #4 starter.
- Keep an eye on: Austin Warner, Alex Fagalde, Steven Gingery

Relief Pitching
- Junior Fernandez (2020 Age: 23): Fernandez transitioned from starting to relieving in 2018, and after getting mixed results in his first year in the bullpen, he took off in 2019. This year, he had a 1.52 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and an 80/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 65 innings at High A Palm Beach, AA Springfield, and AAA Memphis, and he then posted a 5.40 ERA and a 16/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 11.2 major league innings. Now that he's in the bullpen, his fastball has ticked up to the upper 90's, and he can lean more heavily on his fading changeup while taking emphasis off his decent slider. His mediocre command doesn't hurt him nearly as much in the bullpen as it did in the rotation, and his stuff clearly played up in short spurts. He has closer upside if he can tighten his command a little bit, but a nice career as a set-up man is both more likely and highly valuable anyways.
- Griffin Roberts (2020 Age: 23-24): Roberts was a competitive balance pick in the 2018 draft out of Wake Forest, but his first full season in 2019 went about as poorly as possible. He missed the start of the season after being suspended for a "drug of abuse" (likely marijuana), then came back and posted a 6.44 ERA, a 1.74 WHIP, and a 36/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 65.2 innings at High A Palm Beach. His command, which was never all that great to begin with, fell apart and that caused him to pitch from behind in the count often, meaning he had to lean more heavily on his low to mid 90's fastball than on his devastating slider. In the end, he didn't miss bats and he got hit hard. His future is almost certainly in the bullpen now, where he could bump that fastball up into the mid 90's and lean on his slider, which is one of the better breaking balls in all of minor league baseball. In that role, he could move quickly and his command will be less of an issue.
- Tony Locey (2020 Age: 21-22): Locey was the Cardinals' third round pick out of Georgia in 2019, and he posted a 5.29 ERA, a 1.65 WHIP, and a 31/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 17 innings in the complex level Gulf Coast League and at Class A Peoria in his pro debut. He improved steadily throughout his time in Athens, though he remains inconsistent around most of his game. Locey sits in the mid 90's with his fastball, which is his best weapon, and he adds a good slider as well as a curveball and changeup. That deep arsenal could help him start if the Cardinals want to go that route, but the curve and changeup are unreliable and he's probably best off in relief. His command also needs a little bit of work, but tightening it up a little bit could help him be a useful, potentially multi-inning reliever at the major league level.
- Jack Ralston (2020 Age: 22-23): Here's a sleeper for you guys. Ralston didn't pitch in either of his first two seasons at UCLA and only sparingly as a redshirt sophomore, but he broke out as a redshirt junior and the Cardinals took him in the seventh round. Converted to relief at least for his pro debut, he had a 1.07 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and a 26/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 25.1 innings at short season State College. He's a 6'6" righty who can bump his fastball into the mid 90's now that he's pitching in relief, and his plus curveball is a bat-missing weapon that could be his ticket up to the major leagues. His command is improving, and if he can hold it around average like it was in his pro debut, he could move quickly up to the majors and be an impact reliever in the relatively near future.
- Keep an eye on: Seth Elledge, Connor Thomas, Walker Robbins

2019 Draft Review: St. Louis Cardinals

First five rounds: Zack Thompson (1-19), Trejyn Fletcher (2-58), Tony Locey (3-96), Andre Pallante (4-125), Connor Thomas (5-155)
Also notable: Pedro Pages (6-185), Jack Ralston (7-215), Alex McFarlane (25-755), Chris Newell (37-1115)

The Cardinals typically draft well, and this year was no different. They went pitching-heavy and college-heavy, taking eight pitchers with their first eleven picks and ten college players in those first eleven picks. This will replenish the pitching depth in what is currently a hitter-heavy system, as the underperformance of many of the system's better pitchers may leave Johan Oviedo, who you probably haven't heard of, as their pre-draft top pitching prospect. That's now easily Zack Thompson, and guys like Tony Locey and Andre Pallante add more depth as potential future #4 starters. Because they were able to get Thompson for $360,000 below slot, they were able to go over slot on three high schoolers and a JuCo bat on day three, helping add even more depth with this class. However, spending $400,000 against their bonus pool on those four guys will make it nearly impossible for them to sign highly regarded 25th rounder Alex McFarlane or 37th rounder Chris Newell.

1-19: LHP Zack Thompson (Kentucky, my rank: 18)
Thompson was projected to go closer to the 11-14 range, and while I wasn't quite that high on him, this is good value for the Cardinals at #19 overall, especially given that he signed for a discount. After an injury-slowed sophomore season where he posted a 4.94 ERA and a 42/20 strikeout to walk ratio, he bounced back for a huge 2019 in which he posted a 2.40 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 130/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 90 innings, including a 2.27 ERA and a 93/27 strikeout to walk ratio in the gauntlet of SEC play. Thompson is a 6'3" lefty from just outside of Muncie, Indiana armed with four good pitches, including a low 90's fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup, all of which he uses to miss bats and keep hitters off balance. His command isn't pinpoint but it was a little better this year and he could easily end up becoming a mid-rotation starter, though I have a hard time seeing him become more than that because while he has a slew of good pitches, nothing stands out as a true plus. Thompson signed for $3 million, which was $360,000 below slot.

2-58: OF Trejyn Fletcher (Deering HS [ME], my rank: 79)
This move is very risky for the Cardinals, especially considering the fact that Fletcher required an overslot bonus. Fletcher is from Portland, Maine, but attended the Trinity-Pawling School in New York for his first two years of high school before transferring back to Deering High School back in Portland for his junior season. However, he was set to turn 18 in April and was therefore very old for a high school junior, so he re-classified to an age-appropriate senior in March. Because he's coming from way off the beaten prospect path in Maine and scouting directors thought they had another year to evaluate him anyways, that drove a mad rush to the far north as teams scrambled to evaluate him. As you would expect, Fletcher is extremely raw, but he's an exceptional athlete who shows power and speed to dream on. His swing needs a lot of mechanical tweaks, as he doesn't get much extension at all, but the bat is quick and produces nice raw power. His hit tool is also completely unproven, as he didn't hit particularly well in summer ball and Maine high school competition isn't exactly the toughest. Defensively, he's an asset in center field with his speed and arm strength, though he has to work on the mental/instincts portion of his game out there. Fletcher has a long, long way to go, but if all goes well, the Cardinals could turn him into an all-around impact player with power, speed, and good defense, and that's why they spent $1.5 million ($290,000 above slot) to sign him away from a strong Vanderbilt commitment.

3-96: RHP Tony Locey (Georgia, my rank: 120)
Last time, I wrote about the Mariners taking Georgia starter Tim Elliott in the fourth round, this time, I'll write about the Cardinals taking Georgia starter Tony Locey in the third round, and next year, I'll likely write about somebody taking Georgia starter Emerson Hancock in the first round and Georgia starter Cole Wilcox somewhere on Day One. Anyways, Locey has improved every year in Athens after posting a 6.38 ERA as a freshman and a 4.28 mark as a sophomore, this year going 11-2 with a 2.53 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 97/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 89 innings. He's a big guy at 6'3", 240 pounds, and he uses a mid 90's fastball that can reach higher to miss bats. He also adds a slider, a curveball, and a changeup, though the slider is the only secondary offering that will have any effectiveness in pro ball at this point. He also has fringy command, so the Cardinals will have a couple of things for him to work on if he wants to remain a starter. If he can sharpen either the curve or the changeup, he has a chance to make it as a #5 starter, and if he can sharpen both or just one plus his command, he could be a #3 or a #4 guy. However, as it stands, he carries reliever risk and could wind up as a fastball/slider bullpen guy who blows hitters away with an upper 90's fastball. One thing working in his favor is his age, as he is young for a junior and doesn't turn 21 until July. The Warner Robbins, Georgia native signed at slot for $604,800.

4-125: RHP Andre Pallante (UC Irvine, unranked)
I'm a one man crew, so I wasn't able to get to Pallante before the draft, but if I had, I think I would have ranked him above Locey. The Southern California native posted a 2.68 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and an 89/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 94 innings this year, albeit with a pitcher-friendly home park at UC Irvine. He's a smaller guy at six feet tall and has long arm action, but he's athletic and throws plenty of strikes. Stuff-wise, he sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds three secondary pitches, though none stand out as plus. Still, he has exhibited solid pitchability and if the Cardinals can tone down his delivery just a little bit, he could easily have above average command. There's definitely reliever risk due to his lack of size, but he has some upside and could be a #3 or #4 starter. He's also very young for a college junior, not turning 21 until September, which helps his case. Pallante signed at slot for $455,600.

5-155: LHP Connor Thomas (Georgia Tech, unranked)
Two rounds after taking a South Georgia native in Georgia's Tony Locey, the Cardinals grabbed another South Georgian in Connor Thomas, who travelled from rural Tift County up to the big city at Georgia Tech. However, while Locey is a 6'3" power pitcher armed with a big fastball, Thomas is just about the opposite. This year, the 5'11" lefty posted a 3.11 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a 103/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 113 innings, and I think the numbers tell the story. Thomas only sits in the upper 80's with his fastball, but he adds a very good slider and changeup and commands all three pitches exceptionally well from a low three quarters arm slot. As a little lefty without velocity, Thomas will have very little margin of error, but he might be just fine in that case because of that command and secondary stuff. At a skinny 5'11", he's unlikely to add too much more velocity, but if the Cardinals can get him up a tick or two to sit around 90, he could be a successful #4 or #5 starter. Otherwise, he could be a command-minded reliever. He signed at slot for $340,000.

6-185: C Pedro Pages (Florida Atlantic, unranked)
The Cardinals went for a back-up catcher here, grabbing Pedro Pages out of FAU. He's gotten better with the bat every year after slashing .243/.366/.383 as a freshman and .309/.368/.436 as a sophomore, this year slashing .310/.423/.438 with six home runs and a 45/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 60 games for the Owls. He's a good defender with a very strong arm, which means that he'll stick back there and that will take pressure off his bat. At the plate, he can produce some pull power from a swing with plenty of torque, but it doesn't show up in games all that often and he's more of an all-around average hitter. He's patient at the plate and draws a lot of walks, boosting his profile, and he projects more as a backup catcher rather than as Yadier Molina's full-time heir to the position. The Miami native signed for $250,000, which was $11,600 below slot, and he collected five hits (including two doubles) in his first nine at bats at short season State College, also adding two walks.

7-215: RHP Jack Ralston (UCLA, unranked)
While Rangers second rounder Ryan Garcia got most of the attention as UCLA's ace, it was actually Jack Ralston who led the #1 regular season team in the country in innings pitched. He came out of nowhere this year, too, as he redshirted his true freshman season in 2016, did not pitch during his redshirt-freshman season in 2017, then posted a 6.44 ERA and an 18/14 strikeout to walk ratio during his redshirt-sophomore season in 2018. Still, he was talented enough to earn a stint in the Cape Cod League, where he had a 7.11 ERA and walked six batters over 6.1 innings. However, everything clicked and then some in 2019, as the 6'6" righty posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 110/33 strikeout to walk ratio over 101.1 innings, including a 2.21 ERA in conference play in a tough Pac-12. He's a fastball/curveball guy with the former sitting in the low 90's and the latter being a true plus pitch, though he lacks much of a changeup. His command improved significantly this year and is now closer to average, though he still has a lot of moving parts and long arm action in his delivery. Realistically, he's probably a fastball/curveball reliever that could be very effective in short stints, though he has plenty of arm strength and projectability and the Cardinals could conceivably help him succeed as a #3 or #4 starter if a) he improves his changeup and b) he maintains the strides he has made with his command. Ralston is young for his class so despite being in his fourth year at UCLA, he doesn't turn 22 until August. He signed at slot for $204,800.

25-755: RHP Alex McFarlane (Habersham Central HS [GA], my rank: 114)
McFarlane was talented enough to go in the top five rounds, but signability away from his Miami commitment knocked him down to the 25th. He grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but moved to the mountains of Northeast Georgia for his senior year of high school. McFarlane is a 6'3" righty with variable fastball velocity, sitting in the low 90's at his best but dipping to the high 80's both late in games and late in the season. His slider flashes plus at times but also lacks consistency, and he has a changeup that needs work. He is extremely athletic and has a quick arm, but he needs to get more efficient with his delivery and that in turn could help him add more power to his stuff. McFarlane, like many high schoolers, comes with a high ceiling and a low floor, and we'll likely find out more about that in Coral Gables over the next three seasons.

37-1115: OF Chris Newell (Malvern Prep HS [PA], my rank: 89)
Like McFarlane, Newell could have been a top five round or even top three round pick, but signability away from Virginia caused him to fall to the 37th. Newell is an athletic outfielder from the Philadelphia area with plenty of tools. He has an uppercut swing that produces above average power from a 6'2" frame, though he has some questions about his hit tool that will need to be addressed at the next level, which will likely be the ACC. He also has some speed and should be able to handle center field, taking some pressure off his bat. He and McFarlane will face each other in ACC play over the next three years and will be eligible again in 2022.