The St. Louis Cardinals are starting to look like a team with a plan again - and not just any plan, but one rooted in the franchise’s proudest tradition: developing homegrown talent. Under Chaim Bloom’s leadership, the Cardinals are making a concerted push to rebuild their farm system into one of baseball’s best, and the early returns are turning heads across the league.
This isn’t just nostalgia for the Branch Rickey era. The Cardinals have long been known for their ability to identify, develop, and promote talent from within - a formula that’s fueled multiple World Series runs.
But in recent years, that pipeline lost its punch. The organization struggled to produce impact arms and star-caliber bats, and as the prospect well ran dry, the big-league product suffered.
Now, after a few years of Bloom reshaping the organization’s player development and scouting departments, the Cardinals are getting high marks from some of the top evaluators in the game. According to Baseball America, the Cardinals’ farm system is firmly back in the national spotlight - not just as a solid group, but as one of the elite pipelines in baseball.
On a recent Baseball America podcast reviewing NL Central farm systems, analysts Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo didn’t hold back in their praise. They placed the Cardinals comfortably inside the top 10 systems in the league, and even went a step further - saying St. Louis’ top four prospects could go toe-to-toe with the top four in any organization.
Let’s break down that core four:
- JJ Wetherholt is the headliner, and for good reason. He’s a consensus top-five prospect across scouting outlets, and he’s already drawing early buzz as a potential 2026 NL Rookie of the Year candidate. His advanced approach, defensive versatility, and polished bat make him the kind of player who could make an impact from day one.
- Liam Doyle, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, brings frontline starter potential. Evaluators have compared him to Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet - a power arm with the ability to miss bats and anchor a rotation. If Doyle continues to develop as expected, he could be a foundational piece for the Cardinals’ pitching staff in the near future.
- Rainiel Rodriguez turned in one of the most eye-popping offensive seasons we’ve seen from an 18-year-old in recent memory. He’s tracking toward being a middle-of-the-order force - the kind of bat that can carry a lineup. His combination of plate discipline, raw power, and maturity at the plate has evaluators genuinely excited.
- Joshua Baez might be the biggest breakout of the bunch. Known for his tools since he was drafted, Baez finally put it all together in 2025.
His power-speed combo is legit, and he’s made huge strides with his contact skills. That development turns him from a high-upside project into a potential impact outfielder at the big-league level.
What’s especially encouraging for the Cardinals is that this surge in prospect value is happening despite some major injury setbacks within the system. Pitching prospects like Tink Hence, Quinn Mathews, and Brian Holiday all missed significant time in 2025, and arms such as Tekoah Roby, Cooper Hjerpe, and Sem Robberse are expected to miss most or all of 2026. Even with those losses, the system is holding strong - and if those pitchers bounce back, it could elevate the organization’s depth even further.
The 2025 MLB Draft also injected fresh talent into the pipeline, and while the Cardinals didn’t get much help from the 2026 draft lottery, they’ll still have a chance to add more high-upside players next summer. Given Bloom’s reputation for building deep, sustainable farm systems, there’s reason to believe this momentum isn’t just a flash in the pan - it’s the start of something bigger.
And the depth doesn’t stop with the headliners. Catcher Leonardo Bernal, infielder Brandon Clarke, backstop Jimmy Crooks, and international signee Jesus Baez are all names worth watching. Add in rising talents like Yairo Padilla, and it’s clear the Cardinals have a wave of intriguing prospects coming through the ranks.
If St. Louis can capitalize on trade opportunities this offseason and continue to stockpile young talent, their farm system could be in an even stronger position heading into 2026. For a franchise that’s always been at its best when building from within, this return to form feels both familiar and refreshing.
The Cardinals aren’t all the way back yet - but they’re on the right track. And if this group of prospects lives up to the billing, the next great St. Louis core might already be on its way.