The St. Louis Cardinals are stepping into a new chapter in 2026, with Chaim Bloom at the helm as the president of baseball operations.
The team is undergoing a significant transformation, having traded away superstar players, including veteran pitcher Sonny Gray, to revamp the roster. This shift opens the door for emerging talent from the minors to make their mark in the MLB.
One such player turning heads is Luis Gastelum, who is making waves at the Cardinals' spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida.
Gastelum, ranked as the Cardinals' No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is a 24-year-old right-hander who recently showcased his skills in a live batting practice session. He struck out Pedro Pagés on just three pitches, leaving a strong impression.
Gastelum is definitely a pitcher to keep an eye on this season. Last year, he posted impressive numbers with a 2.19 FIP and 2.31 xFIP over 62.2 innings, boasting a 35.4% strikeout rate and an elite 28.8% strikeout-to-walk ratio.
His changeup, a standout pitch, recorded a Whiff% over 50% in A ball, complemented by his fastball, curveball, and slider.
After facing Gastelum, Pagés candidly remarked, "That was not a fun at-bat," expressing his frustration after the swift strikeout. Gastelum started with a sweeper inside for the first strike, followed by his signature changeup on the low-outside corner for the second. Anticipating another changeup outside the zone, Pagés was caught off guard when it hit the same spot for strike three.
Gastelum, who takes a certain delight in baffling hitters, shared his thoughts through team interpreter Kleininger Teran, saying, "When you finally get to see hitters having a hard time and people talking about it, you get super excited." Signed by the Cardinals as a free agent from Mexico in April 2023, Gastelum tallied 92 strikeouts over 62.2 innings with Double-A Springfield last year. His changeup, graded 70 on the scouting scale, is unmatched among ranked prospects, making him a promising asset for the Cardinals' future.