Admittedly, the present for the St. Louis Cardinals doesn't look all that appealing. St. Louis finished fourth in the National League Central in 2025 and has spent the offseason trading away key contributors like Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado.

They might trade away Brendan Donovan as well, and JoJo Romero is also in the mix to get dealt. And while there are high-upside pieces on the major league roster like Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott and Masyn Winn that will keep fans interested, the real interest in the organization will probably come from the minor leagues and prospect development.

Well, the farm system bore some good news on Wednesday, as the Cardinals were given a solid evaluation by Baseball America, who ranked four St. Louis prospects in their first Top 100 rankings of 2026.

Here's what you need to know.

Wetherholt is a versatile infielder who was was drafted No. 7 overall by the Cardinals in 2024 out of West Virginia. His debut is likely to be the most exciting part of this season's rebuild for fans and he could even begin the season on the big-league roster. With Arenado traded, there is an opening at third base, and if Donovan is dealt, there is an opening at second.

Playing 109 games between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in 2025, he hit .306 with 17 home runs, 59 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

Drafted No. 5 overall by the Cardinals in 2025 out of Tennessee, there's significant pressure for the organization's future resting on his left arm. Still just 21 years old, he made just two appearances in the minor leagues after getting drafted, tossing 3.2 innings between High-A and Double-A. He gave up just one run and struck out six.

The Pitcher of the Year in the SEC in 2025, he led D-I baseball in strikeout rate (15.4). In addition to Tennessee, he also pitched at Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss, two other baseball powers.

Just 19 years old, Rodriguez isn't expected to debut until 2028. He played 84 games between Rookie Ball, Single-A and High-A in 2025, hitting .276 with 20 home runs and 63 RBIs. He figures to begin the year at High-A after playing just four games there in 2025.

This is no surprise, as Baseball America said he was the organization's most improved prospect in 2025. 

A second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2021 out of Florida State, he's projected to make his major league debut this season.

He hit .287 across High-A and Double-A in 2025, spending 79 games at the latter. He had 20 home runs and 79 RBIs, and he stole a whopping 54 bases.

He still strikes out a lot, but he's cut his strikeout number each of the last two seasons, fanning 103 times in 117 minor league games.

Baseball America cited his swing-and-miss as one of his main question marks before his breakout 2025. Also, as a Massachusetts native who was unable to play year-round growing up, they thought maybe he was a little raw and didn't have the same exposure to high-level competition as others.

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