St. Louis Cardinals Farm System: The Cardinals’ farm system is surging with breakout bats, high-octane arms, and a wave of upside talent—from JJ Wetherholt to Liam Doyle—that’s reshaping its long-term outlook.
🥇 Tier 1: Fantasy Impact Targets
- JJ Wetherholt – Elite hit tool, OBP monster, plus speed. Could be a .300 hitter with 20+ steals and top-of-the-order production. Immediate fantasy relevance.
- Liam Doyle – Swing-and-miss lefty with a deceptive splitter. Could be a high-strikeout SP2 if he stays healthy.
- Joshua Baez – 20–50 season speaks for itself. If the contact gains hold, he’s a fantasy unicorn with power/speed upside few can match.
🥈 Tier 2: Everyday-Upside Targets
- Tink Hence – He’s athletic with a top-of-the-rotation arsenal. His problem has been staying on the field.
- Rainiel Rodriguez – Offensive catcher with zone control and bat speed. If he sticks behind the plate, he’s a rare fantasy asset.
- Jesus Baez – Bat speed and power projection are real. If he controls the zone, he could be a 20+ HR infielder with run production.
- Ryan Mitchell – Toolsy prep bat with power/speed foundation. Long runway, but center field profile could pop.
- Yairo Padilla – Plus defender with bat-to-ball skills and speed. Needs strength, but could be an impact contributor.
