2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 11-15
2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 11-15
We’re at the front half of the teens, and we get even closer to the guys that might make an MLB impact. 3 of the 5 came from the draft, including one from this last draft.
11. Cooper Hjerpe
Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight: 6’3″/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 03/16/2001 (Age 24)
Drafted: 1st Round (22 overall) in 2022
Highest Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2027
Pitches:
Fastball – Above Average/Plus (60 Grade): 91–94 mph, extreme vertical approach angle with 7″ induced vertical break and 18″ arm‑side run; very low 4.1 ft release height; plays way above velocity.
Slider – Average to Above Average/Plus (55): Upper‑70s with ~18″ sweep; more traditionally a sweeper than slider; nasty vs left-handed hitters; heavy deception due to wide release and tunnels fastball.
Changeup – Average to Above Average/Plus (55): Heavy fade with -4″ IVB and 19″ run; unique movement profile; effective vs righties.
Cutter – Average (50): Mid‑80s; improved in 2024 with mentorship from Jason Isringhausen.
Command/Control – Below Average to Average (45): Walk rate appears high (~13.7%), but misleading; works the edges of the plate; doesn’t chase much; hits locations competitively.
While it seems like the command might hold him back, injuries are the bigger concern; he’s not topped 52 innings in his 3 years as a pro. He’s also not going to be back from Tommy John surgery until mid-season. His numbers are very good, but he’s got to stay on the mound to prove himself
Overall Projection
Ceiling: #2-3 starter; he’s got the pitches, he just needs better command and health to hit the ceiling.
Floor: Middle reliever; I hate to say it, but this seems more likely with the injury history.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): I can’t see the team rushing him after last season’s TJ surgery; he could be a factor from the bullpen in 2027.
12. Jesus Baez
Position: IF
Height/Weight: 5’10″/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/26/2025 (Age 20 for 8 more days)
Signed: 01/15/2022 by the Mets; acquired from the Mets with 2 others for Ryan Helsley in 2025.
Highest Level: Hi A
MLB ETA: 2027
Hit Tool – Average (50): Shows the ability to barrel pitches; high chase rate; expands the zone too often, contributing to streakiness and whiffs.
Power – Above Average/Plus (60): Good raw power, especially notable for his listed size; 93rd percentile in the Florida State League in average exit velocity (2024); recorded a max EV of 109.8 mph.
Speed – Average (50): Not a burner; functional speed rather than a true speed threat.
Defense – Average (50): Primarily a shortstop, but has also played 3B and 2B; defensive home is still TBD; tools are solid but none standout.
Approach/Baseball IQ – Below Average (40): Many questions around character, leading to the trade to the Cardinals; hasn’t played hard consistently; hasn’t always run out balls; poor approach at plate; has shown up to camp out of shape prior to coming to the team; needs to refine pitch recognition.
Baez reminds me of Delvin Perez but with more power; the tools could be there with a little work, but the attitude could get in the way. Baez has better tools than Perez on his best day though, which leads to dreaming about the potential.
Overall Projection
Ceiling: Power hitting, everyday middle infielder; he’s got the tools to play everyday, but can he start working for it?
Floor: Bench hitter or the occasional platoon option at multiple positions; he can handle any position, so he’d have some use if everything doesn’t come together.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): Bench option in 2027; if the team moves on from guys like Jose Fermin, Baez could step in.
13. Tanner Franklin
Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight: 6’5″/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/25/2004 (age 21)
Drafted: 2nd Round (72 overall) in the 2025 Draft
Highest Level: Hi A
MLB ETA: 2027
Pitches:
Fastball – Above Average/Plus to Plus Plus (65-70): Sits 94–98 mph, has touched 102; strong ride and slight cut; generates swing-and-miss at the top of the zone.
Slider – Above Average/Plus (60): Mid‑80s with more depth; one of his primary out-pitches; tunnels well with fastball; works against hitters on both sides of the plate; 43% whiff rate.
Cutter – Average to Above Average/Plus (55): Hard 90 mph; distinct movement from his slider; shorter, tighter break; jams lefties; horizontal action completements vertical movement of fastball; platoon neutralizer.
Changeup – Below Average (45): Upper‑80s; still developing; used sparingly, mostly against lefties; velocity separates if from fastball; improvement is key to starting.
Control/Command – Average (50): Prior to 2025, below average; learned to control walks and throws more strikes at University of Tennessee; throws from 3/4 slot; not a high effort delivery; early glove hand separation.
Scouts believe Franklin will be a reliever, but the the Cardinals are giving him the opportunity to start; his future role depends on the developments with his change up. He’s got 2 plus pitches already to go with an average cutter, so the bullpen profile is already there.
Overall Projection
Ceiling: #2 starter; if the change works out, he could be a very good starter.
Floor: Late inning reliever; he’s got the profile for a closer with the pitch arsenal.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): We could see Franklin in 2026, but that would mean he’s failed as a starter and will be a permanent bullpen arm. If he starts, we’ll see him in 2027; he’ll get MiLB innings to stretch out.
14. Tekoah Roby
Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight:
Bats/Throws: /R
Born:
Drafted: 3rd Round (86 overall) in 2020 Draft by the Rangers; acquired from Rangers with 2 others for Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton in 2023.
Highest Level: AAA
MLB ETA: 2027
Pitches:
Fastball – Above Average/Plus (60): 93-96 MPHs; touched 99 mph; over-the-top slot; shape graded below expectations; left vulnerable, especially vs. righties; extension and plane help it play better than pure velocity; lack of arm-side life limits his ability to attack RH hitters.
Sinker – TBD: added in early 2025 to give horizontal-action option; doesn’t flash standout metrics yet; helps attack inside lanes and keep hitters off the fastball.
Curveball – Above Average/Plus to Plus-Plus (65-70): 82-84; best pitch, a true hammer curve; elite spin rates and exceptional depth; generates consistent swing-and-miss; confidence in this pitch and throws it frequently in key counts.
Slider – Above Average/Plus (60): sits upper 80s; tighter, faster variant than the curveball; tunnels off the four-seam; execution and consistency lag behind the raw stuff; hammered when left up.
Changeup – Below Average to Average (45-50): 81-83; heavy arm-side fade; shows potential but remains inconsistent; can generate whiffs; relies heavily on deception rather than shape.
Command/Control – Below Average to Average (45-50): inconsistent, especially with the slider and change; walk rates historically solid; repeats his delivery well; injury concerns valid before 2025 TJ surgery.
We’ve been talking about Roby’s potential for almost 2 1/2 years at this point and he just can’t stay healthy; that’s going to determine what the team will do. He could start, but how quickly will that workload burn his arm out.
Overall Projection
Ceiling: #3 starter; he’s got the pitches, he just need to refine them and stay on the mound.
Floor: Late inning reliever; he currently has the right pitches to be a dominant reliever and the short stints could save his arm.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): He’ll probably miss parts of 2026, so if he’s healthy and pitching well in 2027, we could see him mid-season.
15. Deniel Ortiz 3B
Position: 3B
Height/Weight: 6’1″/230
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 08/24/2004 (Age 21)
Drafted: 16th Round (471 overall) in 2024
Highest Level: Hi A
MLB ETA: 2028
Hit Tool – Average (50): Good contact, but struggles with off-speed pitches; swing stays through zone and generates solid power; needs timing help to cut strikeouts (26% K rate).
Power – Above Average/Plus (60): stocky, powerful frame; strength-based, lift-friendly swing; strong pull-side lift; backspin that should scale to more power as advances; 90th percentile EV: 105.3 mph; hard-hit rate: 49.3%; barrel rate: 12.5%.
Speed – Below Average (40): not a burner; surprisingly stole 39 bases in 2025, likely due to conditions in A ball over actual speed.
Defense – Average (50): Position uncertain between 3B and 1B; conditioning and mobility improve enough, he could be serviceable at third; arm (55) works at third; projects more confidently as a bat-first 1B.
Approach/Baseball IQ – Average (50): Patient hitter; takes walks but risks being overly passive at times; strikeouts remain elevated; most issues occur against off-speed spin due to the timing mechanism (leg kick).
Ortiz is one of those “come out of nowhere” names that figures something out in the minors (think Juan Yepez a few years ago). He’s got the power to play, but really needs to figure out off-speed pitches. A Nolan Gorman comp isn’t out of the question here; Ortiz just has a lower profile than Gorman did at this age.
Overall Projection
Ceiling: Power hitting everyday third baseman; he won’t set the world on fire with his defense, but the bat will make up for it.
Floor: Power hitting bench option or platoon first baseman; he’ll hit a few homers for you in key roles, but he’ll be striking out often.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): He’s got a lot of work, so we won’t see him before 2028.
Tomorrow we start the top 10.
The full rankings: 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-50
