# 2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 1-5

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-1-5/
- Published: 2026-02-21T08:00:00-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 1-5**

[⌊Cardinals Prospects⌉⌊Cardinals Prospects⌉[

Here is the final 5 of the prospect rankings; and there should be no surprised here.
4 of the 5 we could see as early as this year.

[[

### **1. 󠀁[J.J. Wetherholt](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wether000jj-&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)󠁿**

**Position:** SS / 2B / 3B
**Height/Weight:** 5’10″/190**Bats/Throws: **L/R**Born:**
09/10/2002 (Age 23)**Drafted:** 1st Round (7 overall) in 2024 Draft**Highest Level:**
AAA (2025)**MLB ETA:** 2026

**Hit Tool – Plus Plus (70 grade):** Considered one of the best pure hitters in 
minors; consistently posts elite in-zone contact rates and a 48% HardHit%; shows
the ability to adjust with two strikes; profiles as a top-of-the-order bat with 
exceptional discipline and bat-to-ball skill.

**Power – Average to Above Average/Plus (50–55):** Lacks top-end raw power (max 
EV ~107.6 mph); generates strong game power by selling out early in counts and lifts
the ball consistently; recorded 17 HR in 2025 across AA/AAA with excellent contact
quality; projected for 12–20 HR annually with lots of doubles.

**Speed – Average to Above Average/Plus (55):** Speed is instinctual and efficient;
projecting 20+ steals annually despite average raw foot speed; smart, opportunistic
baserunner who adds value without needing elite speed.

**Defense – Above Average/Plus (60):** Capable of handling SS, 2B, or 3B; BA lists
him as best defensive infielder and best infield arm in the system; expected to 
move between second and third depending on roster fit.

**Approach/Baseball IQ – Plus Plus (65-70):** Rarely chases, walks nearly as much
as he strikes out, and adjusts his plan mid-at‑bat; situational hitting and plate
coverage are part of what makes him a high‑floor, high‑probability MLB regular; 
could be clubhouse leader time in quick time.

There is not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Wetherholt is an elite prospect;
unfortunately so was [Jordan Walker](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkejo02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)
and [Dylan Carlson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carlsdy01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)
at one point. What helps Wetherholt is his timing in the system; Chaim Bloom’s updated
farm system should mean he’s got the tools to succeed. Personally, I’m starting 
him at 3B when the season kicks off because [Nolan Gorman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gormano01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)
didn’t seem comfortable there last season, and Wetherholt has the defense to succeed
there.

**Overall Projection**
**Ceiling:** All-Star, franchise cornerstone; the kid can
hit and is very mature for his age.**Floor:** Everyday infielder with unremarkable
career; he’s good enough to play everyday, even if all the tools don’t continue 
to develop.**Most Likely Outcome (2026–27):** He’ll be in rookie of the year contention
and have a solid season with ups and downs.

[[

### **2. 󠀁[Liam Doyle](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=doyle-000lia,doyle-001lia&search=Liam+Doyle&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)󠁿**

**Position:** Pitcher
**Height/Weight: **6’2″/220**Bats/Throws:** R/L**Born: **06/
03/2004 (Age 21)**Drafted:** 1st Round (5 overall) in 2025 Draft**Highest Level:**
AA (2025)**MLB ETA:** 2026–27

**Pitches:**
**Fastball — Above Average/Plus to Plus‑Plus (60–70): **Sits mid‑90s,
touching 98–100 mph at peak; high release, flat plane, explosive carry up in the
zone; elite whiff pitch.**Slider — Above Average/Plus (60): **82–85 mph with strong
horizontal sweep; flashed plus traits, but leaves it in the middle of the plate 
too often; when sharp, can be a legitimate strikeout pitch vs lefties and righties.**
Cutter — Average (50):** Upper‑80s used as a third look; occasionally leaves it 
up or over the heart, same issue as slider; if refined, could neutralize righties
and round out a true 3‑pitch main mix.**Splitter/Change Variation — Below Average(
40–45)**: Not a go‑to pitch yet as it’s inconsistently used; Could be a key piece
as a starter long‑term.

**Command/Control — Below Average (40-45):** Max‑effort delivery leads to spotty
command at times; real reliever risk due to limited repertoire and max‑effort delivery;
fastball command is significantly ahead of his secondaries.

Doyle is a very interesting pitcher. He could probably start the season in the bullpen
and be successful; his long-term future in the rotation, so they can take half a
season and see what happens. He could be up in 2026 if everything breaks right, 
including better command of his secondary pitches.

**Overall Projection**
**Ceiling:** No. 1–2 MLB starter if the secondaries sharpen
and command stabilizes; Fastball is elite enough to anchor a rotation spot.**Floor:**
High‑leverage lefty reliever, potentially dominant, thanks to elite FB/SL combo.**
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27):** Mid‑rotation starter with strikeout upside in 2027;
multi‑inning monster if shifted to relief for a 2026 debut.

[[

### **3. 󠀁[Rainiel Rodriguez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rodrig004rai&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)󠁿 C Hi A**

**Position:** Catcher
**Height/Weight: **5’10″/197**Bats/Throws:** R/R**Born: **
01/04/2007 (Age 19)**Signed:** 04/01/2024 for $300k bonus**Highest Level:** Hi A**
MLB ETA:** 2028

**Hit Tool – Above Average/Plus (60):** Shows advanced plate discipline for his 
age; selectivity early in counts; avoids selling out for power; walk and strikeout
trends reinforce a mature approach; ability to maintain a competitive K-rate even
as climbing levels shows reliable bat-to-ball skill and pitch recognition.

**Power – Above Average/Plus (65):** already demonstrates real game power; .279 
ISO and 52.5% pull rate, showing efficient translation of strength to damage; 111.1
mph max EV, an elite figure for an 18-year-old; fly-ball oriented batted-ball profile
suggests sustainable power production.

**Speed – Below Average (40):** Not a basepath threat; doesn’t impact catching ability.

**Defense – Above Average/Plus (60):** considered a potential **future elite catching
prospect** due to strong foundational defensive traits; still refining details of
catching.

**Approach/Baseball IQ – Above Average/Plus (60):** Advanced approach for age; **
145 wRC+** at Class-A Palm Beach as an 18-year-old (1 of 15 players 18 or under 
to do so); statistical comps of [Mike Trout](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br),
[Bryce Harper](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harpebr03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br),
[Fernando Tatis Jr.](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tatisfe02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)
as elite teenage players.

Rodriguez looks like he could be something special – a power hitting, above average
defensive catcher who looks better than his age would suggest. That age could also
be a downside, as there have been a few teenage phenoms that never put it all together.
Right now, he’s a back end Top 100 prospect in baseball and a testament to what 
Bloom regime is preaching.

**Overall Projection**
**Ceiling:** Multi-time all star catcher with 30 homers; 
all signs point to a rare combination of skills at this age.**Floor:** Everyday 
catcher with power; he won’t blow anyone away with any facet of his game, but be
good enough to appreciate.**Most Likely Outcome (2026–27):** Probably not in the
picture until 2028; the team can be patient with him with all the upper level catching
depth they have.

[[

### **4. 󠀁[Jurrangelo Cijntje](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cijntj000jur&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)󠁿**

**Position:** Pitcher
**Height/Weight: **5’11″/200**Bats/Throws:** S/S**Born: **
05/31/2003 (age 22)**Drafted:** 1st Round (15 overall) in 2024 Draft by Mariners;
acquired with 2 others from the Mariners for [Brendan Donovan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donovbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)**
Highest Level:** AA**MLB ETA:** 2026

**Right Side Pitches**
**Fastball – Above Average/Plus (60):** Sits 95–97 mph, touches
98–99 mph; above‑average life up in the zone; hitters routinely struggle to catch
up; projects as an MLB‑caliber bat‑miss weapon.**Slider – Average to Above Average/
Plus (55):** Mid‑80s, cutter‑like action at times; depth and power are strong; needs
a bit more command for full plus status.**Changeup – Average (50):** Firm at 87–
89 mph with late fade; produces ground balls more than swings & misses.

**Left Side Pitches**
**Fastball – Average (50):** 90–92 mph, thrown from a lower
slot that tunnels well with his slider.**Slider – Average to Above Average/Plus (
55):** Low‑80s sweeping action; used primarily vs. left‑handed hitters.

**Command/Control – Below Average to Average (45):** Grade for both sides; command
is a little better on right side; walked **4.24 per 9** in 2025; still developing
pro‑level command; college career shows steady improvement, cutting his walk rate
significantly between 2023 and 2024 while developing more consistent mechanics from
the right side.

Cijntje will focus on throwing right handed in games, while throwing from the left
side in bullpen sessions to keep the arm active; he’s currently considered the best
ambidextrous pitcher evaluated. It’s probably for the best to stick with one hand,
as he’s got some work to do. His command has improved over time, so it’s fair to
assume he’ll keep getting better; look as the progress of walk and homer numbers
since college. ([Full scouting report with comps here](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/scouting-report-jurrangelo-cijntje/))

**Overall Projection**
**Ceiling:** #2 starter; if that command continues to improve,
he can get there.**Floor:** Mop-up guy; even with his small frame, he’s been able
to increase his work load each year since his freshman year of college.**Most Likely
Outcome (2026–27):** Late 2026 at the earliest as a spot starter/reliever, and that’s
if he takes the step forward with control. More likely 2027.

[[

### **5. 󠀁[Joshua Baez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=baez--007jos&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2026-02-20_br)󠁿**

**Position:** OF
**Height/Weight: **6’3″/220**Bats/Throws:** R/R**Born: **06/28/
2003**Drafted:** 2nd Round (54 overall) in 2021 Draft**Highest Level:** AA**MLB 
ETA:** 2026

**Hit Tool – Average to Above Average/Plus (55):** biggest developmental story is
his contact improvement; adopted a more all-fields approach; began making contact
at the best rate of his career in 2025; still needs to work on pitch recognition
and strikeouts.

**Power – Above Average/Plus (60):** known for premium raw power; pop in his bat;
size looks bigger in box; elite bat speed, physicality, and plus raw tools dating
back to his signing; capable of towering home runs, including multiple documented
400+ foot shots.

**Speed – Above Average/Plus (60):** **54 stolen bases** in 2025, tied for MiLB 
lead; speed considered legitimate secondary weapon.

**Defense – Average (50): **T**oolsy outfielder** with strong athleticism; size 
and speed suggest corner outfield spot with solid range; defensive value will hinge
on reads and consistency.

**Approach/Baseball IQ – Average (50):** Hard worker; overcame early challenges 
to breakout in 2025.

Baez is the poster boy for Bloom right now; he was pretty much written off as a 
legit prospect prior to 2025 when he broke out. Baez went from a pull hitter to 
hitting to all fields, which stabilized his swing path and cut down on whiffs. He
also was fully healthy for the first time in a while, which kept everything consistent.

**Overall Projection**
**Ceiling:** 30/30 corner outfielder; he’s got the power/
speed combo and should be able to maximize it in the Majors.**Floor:** Power off
the bench; he won’t be a true 4th outfielder, but he could be in the field in a 
pinch and supplies power late in games.**Most Likely Outcome (2026–27):** He could
be the Walker replacement this season, if he takes another step forward and Walker
does nothing.

I’ll be back next week with a prospect follow up, including the Prospect Tracker
with rankings from other websites/publications.

The full rankings: [1-5](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-1-5/)
| [6-10](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-6-10/)
| [11-15](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-11-15/)
| [16-20](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-16-20/)
| [21-25](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-21-25/)
| [26-50](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2026/02/2026-top-50-cardinals-prospects-26-50/)

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