The Cardinals have a good problem on their hands, and Rainiel Rodriguez sits right at the center of it.
At 19, St. Louis’ top prospect is already putting together a season that belongs in rare company.
Across High-A and Double-A, Rodriguez has hit .314/.402/.563 with 24 home runs, 54 extra-base hits and 77 RBI in 105 games. Once he reached Double-A, he took another step forward, posting a 151 OPS+ in 77 games and putting up historic numbers for a player his age at that level.
The bat is the headline here. That much is obvious.
Rodriguez has shown enough offensive force that he could force his way to the majors before his defense at catcher is fully polished, and that’s where the conversation gets interesting for St. Louis.
The Cardinals already have catchers in the mix at the big-league level, and the reported promotion of another top prospect and fellow catcher Leo Bernal to the majors this week only adds to the discussion. That’s why the question keeps coming back: does Rodriguez stay behind the plate, or does the organization widen his defensive path?
Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio addressed the broader issue recently on 101 ESPN’s midday show BK & Ferrario, noting that Rodriguez has played some first base this year and saying he is someone the club will explore at other positions in the offseason. That kind of flexibility makes sense for a player whose bat is already pushing the timeline.
No one is saying Rodriguez is being pushed out from catching long term. But the Cardinals are also dealing with a crowded group of young backstops, including Bernal, Herrera and Crooks, all of whom bring their own long-term questions.
Herrera could wind up elsewhere, Bernal could miss as a big leaguer, Crooks could keep struggling, or some combination of those names could end up in trade talks. However it shakes out, the Cardinals have options.
And if Rodriguez is as real as the numbers suggest, they’ll find room for him.
Third base is the most obvious place to look. Cerfolio brought it up as a hypothetical, and it’s easy to see why.
St. Louis doesn’t have a clear long-term answer there.
Blaze Jordan has had moments this year, and Jesus Baez has looked incredible at Double-A, but the job still feels open. If Rodriguez can handle third, that would give the Cardinals another direct path to getting his bat into the lineup.
First base is another possibility. That would give St.
Louis a right-handed option to complement Alec Burleson, especially when a left-handed starter is on the mound. Burleson has been excellent against righties this season, with a .951 OPS, but he’s struggled badly against southpaws, carrying a .567 OPS against them.
In that kind of setup, Rodriguez, Bernal or Herrera could handle first against a lefty, then Burleson could return later against a right-handed reliever.
There’s still plenty to sort out, and the Cardinals will have to figure out how all of these young pieces fit together. But the bigger point is simple: the more places Rodriguez can play, the faster he can become part of the everyday picture. Third base might be the key that opens that door.
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The broader opening is part of what makes Scott interesting heading toward 2027. St. Louis does not have much established competition in center field right now, which leaves the door cracked for a player whose speed and defensive profile already fit the position. If Scott keeps trending in the right direction, the Cardinals could be looking at a real internal candidate to reclaim a job that once seemed to slip away. [Read more 🡒]