2022 Cardinals Draft Tracker
The 2022 MLB Draft is upon us and I’ll be updating this track all the way through the signing deadline on August 1st. The draft hasn’t changed in recent years. Team will be allotted a pool that they are allowed to spend; the pool is made up of the recommended bonuses for the first 10 rounds. Picks can be signed for above their recommended bonus, but teams only get penalized for spending more then the pool amount. For the Cardinals, they have a pool of $6,845,900 to spend without penalty. If they spend up to 5% more than their pool (about $7,187,000), they will be taxed on the overage. Once they go beyond 5%, they get taxed on the overage and lose future picks; no team has gone over the 5% threshold since this format started.
The first tab is the money; it shows how many have signed, where they are compared to both the pool and the pool + 5%. The second tab is the individual picks and what they’ve signed for. The third tab is the demographics of the Cardinals draft. These will be updated daily. Below the tracker will be live updates on the picks and the signings.
Live Updates
7/27, 2:10 PM: The Cardinals will not be signing Van Kempen; he announced via Twitter that he’ll be fulfilling his commitment to West Virginia. Bummer.
The Cardinals draft is completed.
7/25, 8:30 AM: The Cardinals have now signed 19 of their 20 picks. They’ve gone over the bonus pool, but not the pool + 5%. The remaining pick, Van Kempen, will require an above slot ($125k) bonus; the Cardinals can go up to $369k without additional penalties. I’m expecting that they won’t sign him.
7/23, 8:35 PM: New signings. First is Crooks at slot.
Rajcic goes above slot…
Hansen for slot…
Winquest at slot…
7/22, 6:11 PM: The Cards signed Hjerpe and Mautz.
7/22, 2:00 PM: The Cardinals announced yesterday they signed 10th round pick Jacobson; no word on the contract yet:
7/19, 8:15 PM: The final 3 picks are on the tracker. I’ll have scouting reports on as many players as I can tomorrow.
Quick notes on the draft…the only high schooler was the final pick; I’m guessing they’ll try to save money on the first 10 picks to offer him a bonus. 13 of the 20 picks were pitchers; it’s a need in the system and they don’t have the 40-50 picks they used to for filling in other positions. It’s still weird to see.
7/19, 3:15 PM: Picks 16 and 17
- Hunter Hayes, RHP, Pacific
6’1″, 185 lbs, 08/05/2000 - Brody Moore, SS, Auburn
5’11”, 183 lbs, 07/20/2000
College Sr
7/19, 2:37 PM: Here are the next 5 picks for the Cardinals
- Nathan Church, OF, UC-Irvine
5’11”, 180 lbs, 07/12/2000
College Sr - Michael Curialle, SS, UCLA
6’2″, 199 lbs, 06/16/2001 - Chandler Arnold, RHP, Dallas Baptist
6’2″, 189 lbs, 11/19/1999 - D.J. Carpenter, RHP, Oregon St
6’8″, 242 lbs, 02/08/2000 - Matt Hickey, RHP, Tarleton St
6’1″, 165, 05/11/1998
5th Year Sr
7/19, 9:50 AM: Tanner Jacobson. Played DII baseball. Split time between rotation and bullpen. No info on pitches.
7/19, 9:35 AM: Joseph King. Little info available. Missed time in 2021 and split between starting and relief. Fastball sits 88-90, touches 92; has hit 95 in showcases. Fastball also has some movement. Additionally, throws change (ranges from 79-86 MPH) and slider (ranges 76-80). Appears to be a little wild; needs help with control and command.
7/19, 9:30 AM: Cade Winquest. 5 pitch mix with low-effort delivery. Mid-90s four seam fastball sits 94-96; touches triple digits. Two seam fastball has good movement that generates groundballs. Curve was top off-speed pitch until he developed a slider and splitter. Slider sits mid-80s and generates strikeouts. Splitter is below average, but his feel got better as the season went on. Floor of mid-level reliever; ceiling of #3 starter. Bet on a relief role.
7/19, 8:50 AM: Alex Iadisernia has a quick, consistent swing that makes quality contact. Limited power; more doubles then homers in the long run. Good athlete. Doesn’t excel at any part of the game, but does everything well. Probable 4th outfielder.
7/18, 4:15 PM: Here are the remaining picks for today. I’ll have scouting reports lined up later tonight.
- Alex Iadisernia, OF, Elon
5’11”, 180, 10/11/00 - Cade Winquest, RHP, Texas – Arlington (Senior)
6’2″, 205, 04/30/00 - Joseph King, RHP, Cal-Berkeley
6’1″, 194, 02/23/01 - Tanner Jacobson, RHP, Queens U of Charlotte (Senior)
6’1″, 190, 01/24/00
7/18, 2:25 PM: First right handed pitcher…Max Rajcic, RHP, UCLA. 6’0″, 210, 08/03/01. 4 pitch mix. Fastball sits 91-93, touches 95. Upper 70s curve with good horizontal movement. Low 80s slider. Low 80s changeup with good fade. Not overpowering, but controls pitches very well. Spent freshman year as closer before starting this past year. Draft eligible sophomore, so he has some leverage.
7/18, 2:01 PM: Back to back position players…Victor Scott II, OF, West Virginia. 5’11”, 190 lbs, 02/12/2001. Toolsy player with plus speed. High contact rate, but long swing generates too many ground balls. Moderate power, but probably limited to 12 to 15 homers in the long run. Good batting eye, takes walks. Speed means he’ll stick in center; good reads on the ball. This pick is a stretch, but these are the guys the Cardinals develop.
7/18, 1:44 PM: The first position player of the draft is Jimmy Crooks III, a catcher from University of Oklahoma. 6’1″, 210 lbs, 07/19/2001. Grinder makeup. LH batter with power potential; needs to translate raw power to in game power, but increased bat speed could help with that. Hits to pull side often. Struggles with breaking pitches. Below average speed, but smart base runner. Good defense. Plus arm; good pop times. Simple footwork, good blocking, and improved framing. Should stick at catcher in the long run.
7/18, 1:18 PM: First pick of the day…Pete Hansen, LHP, Texas. 6’2″, 205 lbs, 07/28/2000. Fastball sits high 80s, touches low 90s. Plus slider with horizontal and vertical movement; sits 78-82. Average curve sits 72-76; good depth to pitch. Average change that works well to righties; sits in low 80s. Fast moving prospect; high floor, low ceiling like the previous 2 picks. Back of rotation projection.
7/18, 7:48 AM: The Cardinals took Brycen Mautz, LHP, San Diego with their second round pick. 6’3″, 190 lbs, 07/17/2001. Scouting reports much like Hjerpe; throws from a 3/4 arm slot, which cause deception in his pitches. Low 90s fastball, touches 95; good sink and generates groundballs. Low 80s slider; comes from the same angle as the fastball, so tunneling has made the pitch big for strikeouts. Has a changeup that he doesn’t throw much; could develop into an average pitch. Good control and command; doesn’t walk many and saw an increase in strikeouts in 2022.
7/17, 8:29 PM: The Cardinals select Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon St. 6’3″, 200 lbs, 03/16/2001. 2022 BA All American 1st Team, 2022 Gold Spikes Finalist, 2022 Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year, and 2022 All-Pac-12 First Team. Side arm slot pitcher with deception. Fast ball sits low 90s, touches 94-95; could see a hit in velocity pitching every 5th day. Slider sits mid-70s, sweeping pitch. Curve sits mid-80s with good, tight spin. Change sits upper 70s, considered above average (probably best pitch behind his fast ball). Shows control and command; limits walks. Low ceiling, high floor; mid to back of rotation starter, but could see the bullpen to move quicker.
Chris Sale and Josh Hader are comps for his unique pitching motion.
