The Cardinals’ 2026 season offered a glimpse of what this next wave can do, and the organization may already have another potential difference-maker waiting in the wings.
JJ Wetherholt was the clearest example, arriving with plenty of hype and meeting it on Opening Day. Leo Bernal and Joshua Baez also flashed in smaller looks.
With one of baseball’s stronger farm systems, St. Louis has more young talent on the way, and one name worth circling for 2027 is 21-year-old infielder Jesus Baez.
What makes Baez especially intriguing is the fit. Third base remains unsettled, and that opens the door.
Thomas Saggese and Blaze Jordan both got chances in 2026 and should have opportunities again in spring. Nolan Gorman, meanwhile, is only 26, but the production simply hasn’t followed the promise.
He is batting .188 with nine home runs in 83 games, and the Cardinals may decide a change is needed this winter. If they don’t bring in an outside third baseman, Baez’s path gets a lot clearer.
He still hasn’t played above Double-A, but the bat is impossible to ignore. In 2026, Baez appeared in 113 games in the Cardinals’ system and hit .283/.328/.587 with a .915 OPS, 39 home runs, 109 RBIs and 21 doubles.
He also played in five postseason games and added two more home runs. All told, that left him with 41 homers in 118 games.
The power is the headliner here. The Cardinals already got a front-row look at what Joshua Baez could do in the majors this season after he mashed 34 home runs in the minors in 103 games before his promotion. Jesus Baez was right there with him as one of the system’s biggest sluggers.
Baez will turn 22 during Spring Training on Feb. 26, and it’s not a stretch to think he could be in the majors by Opening Day or sometime during 2027. If the growth keeps coming, he could reach St. Louis quickly - and maybe help solve third base along the way.
In Other News...
Cardinals Put Their Rotation Future Under Spotlight Against Baseballs Best
The Cardinals head into their final regular-season series carrying the weight of an 82-loss year, a mark that guarantees back-to-back losing seasons and leaves them under .500 in three of the last four. Next up is a three-game set against the Brewers, who have already clinched the best record in Major League Baseball, a reminder of just how far St. Louis has to go before it can think about contending again.
What makes this weekend especially revealing is the group the Cardinals are lining up on the mound: Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews and Andre Pallante. With the season winding down and the opponent at the top of the sport, the rotation turn comes with a little extra meaning, since these are the kinds of innings that can hint at what the Cardinals want their pitching picture to look like going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Prospect Mason Molina Is Raising A Bigger Rotation Question
Mason Molinas first full run in the Cardinals system has done more than justify the trade with Texas. The left-hander has settled in as a starter across Double-A and Triple-A, putting together a 3.57 ERA overall and showing the kind of strikeout stuff that tends to get attention quickly in this organization. His recent stretch at Triple-A Memphis has been even more eye-opening, as he has overpowered hitters and kept the ball out of danger over six starts.
For St. Louis, the interesting part is no longer simply that Molina looks like a useful prospect. It is where he fits next. A pitcher who is already flashing enough polish to look viable in a big-league rotation can also become a valuable piece in a different way, and the Cardinals now have a decision to keep in mind as his stock keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Rebuild Suddenly Carries One Intriguing Timeline For Fans
With the Cardinals officially out of playoff contention for a fourth straight year and sitting at 76-80 on Sept. 22, attention in St. Louis has shifted from the present disappointment to what the next competitive club might look like. The organization has spent the season in rebuild mode, and part of the appeal for fans is starting to see the outline of a younger core take shape.
Broadcaster Stefan Caray put a brighter timeline on it recently, suggesting the Cardinals could be back in the National League Central race by 2027 if the right pieces continue to develop. Prospects such as catcher Rainiel Rodriguez and pitcher Liam Doyle are projected to arrive as soon as next season, giving St. Louis a potential path to improvement that could make the next couple of years feel a lot more relevant than the current standings do. [Read more 🡒]