The Cardinals already got one jolt from the minors, and the next one seems pretty clear.
Joshua Báez made his long-awaited major league debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs and announced himself in a way few players ever do: three home runs in one game. It was the kind of entrance that grabs the entire MLB world and instantly changes the conversation about what St. Louis might have coming next.
And Báez may not be the last young bat the Cardinals turn to.
On Monday, Quinn Mathews was called up for his second big-league start and turned in another strong showing. There’s a separate debate to be had about whether he should stay in the rotation in a regular role, but for now the Cardinals have at least shown they’re willing to look upward for answers.
If they want another boost while staying in the National League playoff race, Leo Bernal looks like the obvious name.
Bernal is already on the 40-man roster and has put together a strong season at Triple-A. In 92 games, he’s hitting .285/.368/.483 with an .850 OPS, along with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, nine stolen bases, 19 doubles and 64 runs scored. He’s also the No. 7 overall prospect.
The catching situation makes the case even stronger. Iván Herrera isn’t going anywhere after earning All-Star honors this season and standing out as one of the team’s best hitters.
Still, there are obvious concerns behind the plate, especially when it comes to throwing runners out. Moving him even more toward designated hitter duty wouldn’t be a surprise.
Behind Herrera, the production just hasn’t been there. Pedro Pagés is hitting .207, and Jimmy Crooks is batting .183.
That leaves St. Louis without much offense at the position unless Herrera is the one handling it.
That’s where Bernal comes in. Báez has already shown what a top prospect can do when he gets the call, even if the hits haven’t kept falling since that debut. He’s been squaring the ball up and running into bad luck, but the Cardinals could use more impact, and Bernal is the cleanest next move.
In Other News...
Cardinals Prospect Surge Is Turning One National Debate Around
The Cardinals farm system has quietly become one of the most encouraging parts of the organizations outlook, and the latest national rankings only reinforced that momentum. MLB Pipeline placed St. Louis fourth heading into the 2026 season, keeping the club in the same spot even after the organization added talent through trades and the draft, while Baseball America pushed the Cardinals all the way up to second in baseball.
Those numbers matter because they reflect more than just a few shiny names at the top of the list. They point to a system with real depth and a wave of prospects that has changed how the Cardinals are being viewed nationally, even if different outlets still disagree on exactly where the farm belongs in the pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Joshua Baez Could Give The Cardinals A Dangerous New Lineup Option
Joshua Baezs first taste of the majors came with a little more responsibility than most debuts. In a game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Cardinals gave him a look at the top of the order, another sign that the organization sees more than just raw talent in the 22-year-old. Baez has long stood out in the minors for his rare blend of power and speed, the kind of tools that can change the shape of a lineup if they translate cleanly to St. Louis.
Oliver Marmol has already shown a willingness to use Baez in the leadoff role when JJ Wetherholt is not available, which hints at how the Cardinals may want to deploy him as he settles in. Wetherholt is still expected to hold down that spot most of the time, but Baezs upside is obvious enough to make the arrangement worth watching. If his bat begins to catch up to his athleticism, the Cardinals could have a very different kind of table-setter waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Youth Movement Is Suddenly Fueling A Surprise Playoff Push
Since the trade deadline, the Cardinals have started to look like a team that found a second wind instead of one that sold off too much too soon. They have won nine of their last 13 games and have taken series against stronger opponents, with the younger core beginning to carry more of the load. Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt have been part of that surge, and prospect Joshua Bez has added another jolt to the lineup as St. Louis keeps trying to thread the needle between development and contention.
The roster changes at the deadline, including the moves involving Dustin May, JoJo Romero and Lars Nootbaar, were supposed to signal a step back, but the results have made the picture more complicated. The Cardinals are still outside the playoff field, yet they remain in the mix for a wild-card spot, which is enough to keep the conversation alive and the pressure steady. With the youth movement suddenly producing real wins, the next stretch will say plenty about whether this is a brief burst or the start of something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]