Albert Pujols thinks the Cardinals already have the kind of young foundation that can carry St. Louis for years, and he’s putting three names at the center of it: JJ Wetherholt, Joshua Baez and Jordan Walker.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, the Cardinals legend praised what he saw from the club’s younger players and credited Oli Marmol for letting them grow without pressure. His full comment, as transcribed by Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek, put the focus squarely on the next wave in St. Louis:
"I love what the young players were able to do this year," Pujols said, as transcribed by Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek. "There were no expectations, I think Oli Marmol did an unbelievable job of letting those young players play the game and play loose. ...
I think they're going to be good for years to come with a really good core. Jordan Walker, Joshua Baez and JJ Wetherholt, I think they have that core, and if they add some pitching, they're going to be good not just for next year, but many years ahead."
That pitching piece is the obvious next step, and the Cardinals know it. Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Michael McGreevy appear lined up for rotation spots in 2026, but beyond that the picture gets murkier. Quinn Mathews impressed down the stretch and could be part of the answer, while Matthew Liberatore is still a question after a rough season.
The encouraging part for St. Louis is that the system has arms coming.
Baseball America ranked the Cardinals’ farm system second in the majors in August, and eight of the organization’s top 14 prospects are pitchers. That gives the club a real chance to find help from within.
The young position-player group has already given the front office plenty to build around, too. Wetherholt looked like a star in 2026 and should win a Gold Glove Award this season and maybe even the Rookie of the Year Award.
Walker was an All-Star and finally delivered the breakthrough the Cardinals had been waiting for. Baez flashed major power and was scorching hot before getting hurt late in the year.
Add Alec Burleson, Leo Bernal and Masyn Winn to that mix, and the outline gets even clearer. The Cardinals missed the playoffs, but the talent base is there, and Pujols sees a team that could turn the corner fast if it keeps moving in the same direction.
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