New Top 10 Prospect Ranking Sees 3 Cardinals Promoted, 3 Elevated

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Minor League system is so bountiful with promising prospects that even after a season where they had 13 players make their MLB debuts they still have plenty of highly coveted players to fill out their latest Top 10 rankings.

In its new rankings of the prospects in the Cardinals’ Minor League system, Baseball America moved slugging infielder Jesús Báez, surging starter Tekoah Roby and Triple-A right-hander Jurrangelo Cijntje into the Top 10. Lefty Liam Doyle, righty Tanner Franklin, rookie catcher Leo Bernal made major moves up the Top 10, which is still led by slugging catcher/infielder Rainiel Rodriguez.

Ranking prospects on a 20/80 talent scale, Rodriguez came in at a 55, while Doyle (50), Franklin (50) and current MLB talents Leo Bernal (50) and Joshua Báez (45) followed closely behind. Jesus Báez, who hit 41 home runs in High-A and Double-A in 2026, jumped from No. 15 to No. 6 in the Baseball America rankings and was given an overall rating of 45. Roby, who did not allow a run in three Arizona Fall League starts while still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, moved from the No. 13 prospect to No. 7, while 2026 first-round draft pick Trevor Condon is slotted in at No. 8.

Cijntje, 23, jumped from No. 12 to No. 9 in the rankings after showing great swing-and-miss stuff at Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. Tai Peete, the outfielder acquired from Seattle last December in the trade centered around Brendan Donovan, remained at No. 10 in the Baseball America Rankings despite some dynamic play in the Arizona Fall League that has him in the running for the MVP of that offseason showcase.

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While trying to predict how the next decade of Cardinals baseball will unfold, Baseball America picked Rodriguez as the organization’s best hitter, the record-setting Joshua Báez was the best power hitter, the 18-year-old Condon as the club’s fastest player and Peete’s rare blend of speed and power to make him the team’s best athlete.

On the pitching side, Doyle was tabbed as having the best fastball, unranked right-hander Jacob Odle as having the best curveball, flame-thrower Brandon Clarke having the best slider, Cade Crossland as having the best changeup and Roby possessing the best control.

Defensively, Bernal (top defensive catcher), Jalin Flores (best defensive infielder), Jesus Báez (best infield arm), Alexander Frias (best outfield arm) and Peete (best defensive outfielder) were cited for having bright futures.   

Baseball America went as far as picking a projected lineup for the 2030 season, and their picks included very few holdovers from the current Cardinals squad. It is likely that not all of the Cardinals’ highly rated prospects will pan out at the big-league level, but that did not stop Baseball America’s projecting what the 2030 Cardinals’ lineup could look like with their ages in that season:

Catcher: Bernal (26)

First base: Rodriguez (23)

Second base: Yairo Padilla (23)

Third base: Jesus Báez (25)

Shortstop: JJ Wetherholt (27)

Left field: Condon (22)

Center field: Peete (24)

Right field: Josiah Ragsdale (26)

Designated hitter: Joshua Báez (27)

Starting pitcher: Doyle (26)

SP: Franklin (26)

SP: Roby (28)

SP: Cijntje (27)

SP: Quinn Mathews (29)

Closer: Sandro Santana (25)

Notable free agents before 2030: Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn and Ivan Herrera