2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 6-10

2026 Top 50 Cardinals Prospects: 6-10

We are hitting the top 10 and there are some elite guys here, but there are also some question marks. We really look at the beginning of the catching depth and find a perennial top 10 prospect for the last 5 years.

6. Quinn Mathews

Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight: 6’5″/188
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 10/04/2000 (Age 25)
Drafted: 4th Round (122 overall) in 2023
Highest Level: AAA
MLB ETA: 2026

Pitches:
Fastball – Average to Above Average/Plus (55 grade): Sits 93–95 mph, touching 96 after gaining 20+ lbs of muscle; 17″ IVB, 8″ arm‑side run from a 5.6 ft release; plays with deception due to low slot and hiding the ball; generates more whiffs than raw velo suggests because of funk, hop, and angle.
Changeup – Above Average (60): Low‑80s; late fade, tunneling deception; consistently best swing‑and‑miss pitch; works against both righties and lefties.
Slider – Average to Above Average/Plus (55): 80–85 mph with gyro action; recent expanded usage vs. righties; increasingly reliable chase pitch; glove‑side command improving.
Curveball – Below Average (40): 73–75 mph; not a major weapon but steals early-count strikes.

Command/Control – Below Average to Average (45-50): Walks are the biggest limiter to big-league readiness; otherwise has advanced sequencing and pitchability; 6.7 BB/9 in 2025 up from previous; avoids home runs — 0.55 HR/9; strong ground-ball rate (48%); misses barrels; high energy delivery.

Quinn had a breakout season in 2024, but took a step back in 2025; most of this is tied to shoulder issues. After a short IL stint, Quinn lost his command and saw a velocity drop late into the season. If the shoulder is healthy, he could be a dark horse for a 2026 rotation spot; he’s got the pitches and sequencing to start now.

Overall Projection
Ceiling: #3 starter; he’s got 3 solid pitches and a curve that could get better with use, knows how to pitch, and was pretty durable before 2025.
Floor: Multi-inning reliever; the arsenal works in the bullpen and he could see additional velocity in small stints.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): He should be in the rotation this season, even as a spot starter. 2027 looks to be his shot at a full time rotation spot.

7. Jimmy Crooks

Position: Catcher
Height/Weight: 6’0″/230
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 07/19/2001 (Age 24)
Drafted: 4th Round (127 overall) in 2022 Draft
Highest Level: MLB
MLB ETA: Now

Hit Tool – Average (50): Line-drive oriented hitter; wide stance and a simple bat path; excels at squaring fastballs; doesn’t miss many fastballs; advanced barrel control; strong BABIP skills; consistent batted-ball profiles; struggles with off speed pitches low in the zone.

Power – Average (50): Not a home run threat; above-average exit velocities; punishes mistakes for average game power; line-drive tendencies keep up production; missing big loft.

Speed – Well Below Average (30): won’t steal bases; lack of speed doesn’t impact his defense.

Defense – Above Average/Plus (60): Reliable and agile enough behind the plate to handle daily catching duties; excellent pitch framer; above average arm; quick transfer for enhanced caught-stealing numbers; blocks plate well; praised for game-calling and staff management.

Approach/Baseball IQ – Above Average/Plus (60): Smart baseball mind; known for studying scouting reports nightly; pitchers/coaches note his game-calling ability and staff management; works on improving all aspects of game.

Crooks should be the starting catcher if Ivan Herrera can’t handle the position; it’s very possible he won’t be though with Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo also on the roster. The Cardinals should have done something in the off-season with their top loaded catcher problem. Crooks would have been the one to keep.

Overall Projection
Ceiling: An every day catcher; he won’t be Yadier Molina, but few are. He’s a good 2nd choice.
Floor: A platoon catcher; the defense is there for a long career, even if it’s a start or 2 a week.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): Should be the starting catcher or backup to Herrera, if he’s able to catch.

8. Brandon Clarke

Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight: 6’4″/220
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 04/10/2003 (Age 22)
Drafted: 5th Round (148 overall) in 2024 Draft by Boston; acquired with 2 other from the Red Sox for Sonny Gray in 2025
Highest Level: Hi A
MLB ETA: 2028

Pitches
Fastball – Above Average/Plus (60): 95–98 mph, touching 100 mph; more downhill plane than riding life; velocity gives him margin for error.
Slider – Plus Plus (70): best pitch; sits 87-90; a hard, swing‑and‑miss breaking ball that generates chase; doesn’t always finish in the zone; one of the highest‑graded sliders among Cardinals pitching prospects.
Curveball – Below Average (45): 81-85; shape-change differentiator from slider; change of pace pitch; used less frequently; “sweeper”.
Changeup – Below Average (40): 87-89; least developed offering; still a work‑in‑progress; needs to tighten it against righties; not the same level of deception as slider.

Command/Control – Below Average (45): Command lags behind stuff; still refining zone consistency after interrupted developmental years; needs to limit walks and go deeper into counts.

Clarke might have as much upside as anyone in the system, but there are some major concerns. He’ll need another average pitch to be a starter; either the curve or change needs to get better. More importantly, he needs to stay healthy; he’ll be out until June after having a procedure for an aneurysm in his left arm. Consistent throwing should help with the second pitch.

Overall Projection
Ceiling: #2-3 starter; that fastball/slider combo is lethal to go with the typical starter frame.
Floor: Late inning reliever; he can get by with those 2 plus pitches in short stints, which might help his durability.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): None; I thought late 2027 was possible, but not with the delay to the start of this season; they need to play it safe with him since the floor looks closer than the ceiling right now.

9. Leonardo Bernal

Position: Catcher
Height/Weight: 6’0″/245
Bats/Throws: S/R
Born: 02/13/2004 (Age 22)
Signed: 01/15/2021
Highest Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2026

Hit Tool – Average (50): Average bat to ball skills; better overall hitter from left side, but more power from left; will chase but doesn’t look overmatched; needs work on breaking pitches.

Power – Average (50): Average raw power; good exit velocity; potential to add more power there; needs to limit groundballs to take advantage of power.

Speed – Well Below Average (30): won’t steal bases; speed impacts blocking ability behind plate.

Defense – Above Average/Plus (55-60): Overall strong defensive catcher; plus arm; sub-1.95 pop time and catches stealers at good clip; above average framer; good game management; needs work on blocking because of stout body.

Approach/Baseball IQ – Average (50): Worked to improve defense; good instincts on basepaths; handles pitching staff well.

There isn’t much difference between Crooks and Bernal; sounds like Crooks is slightly ahead with catching fundamentals and can block better. Bernal is younger and still has some development time, even with being added to the 40-man this past off-season. He’s a borderline top 100 prospect right now and only moving up.

Overall Projection
Ceiling: An everyday catcher; see the Crooks ceiling.
Floor: Back up catcher; the plus defense and average bat plays for almost anyone.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): He should be up by 2027, earlier if there are serious health issues with the other catchers on the roster. Because of the catching depth, it’s hard to determine if he’ll be starting or backup.

10. Tink Hence

Position: Pitcher
Height/Weight: 6’1″/195
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 08/06/2002 (Age 23)
Drafted: 2nd Round (63 overall) in 2020 Draft
Highest Level: AA
MLB ETA: 2027

Pitches
Fastball – Average to Above Average (55): Sits 92–96 mph, touching 98 mph; delivered from a three‑quarters slot that makes the ball jump late; flashes plus life up in the zone; mechanical adjustments in 2025 negatively affected its shape and effectiveness.
Changeup – Plus Plus (70): 82–84 circle changeup; elite arm-speed deception; tunnels well with his fastball before diving arm-side; generates huge whiff rates; effective against both lefties and righties.
Slider – Average (55): Mid-80s; recently became firmer and more gyro-oriented; a true third weapon; particularly effective vs. right-handed hitters.
Curveball – Average (50): Mid-80s; became tighter and harder with less downward float; functions as a stabilizer when doesn’t have best fastball.
Sinker – Below Average (40): Low-90s; developing pitch added in 2025; adds movement diversity.

Command/Control – Below Average (40): Command is inconsistent; athletic delivery with natural deception; mechanical changes in 2025 reduced extension and worsened fastball shape; struggles repeating mechanics deep into outings; fatigue shows in loss of velocity and command; has never thrown 100 innings in a pro season.

Hence has been on this list for the last 5 years, but hasn’t progressed for various reasons; mainly his health. Hence has struggled to stay healthy and the team has adjusted his mechanics in hopes of building some durability, which has lowered his fastball to an average to slightly above average pitch. He could be the biggest poster child of the incompetence of the system (at least on the pitching side; Jordan Walker might be the hitter version); he was a slam dunk to be an elite arm and they’ve bobbled it. At this point, and it pains me to say it, it might be time to switch him to the bullpen to see if he can stay healthy.

Overall Projection
Ceiling: #2 starter; the pitch arsenal is unreal and he looks elite at times.
Floor: Power reliever; the fastball/changeup would be perfect at the end of games.
Most Likely Outcome (2026–27): I don’t think we see him until he proves he’s healthy for a season, so 2027. If we do see him this season, it’s out of the bullpen.

I’ll finish up tomorrow.

The full rankings: 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-50