The St. Louis Cardinals have spent the last year acquiring and hoarding assets that can help the return to contention.

Between the MLB draft and various trades, the Cardinals have six top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline.

St. Louis' second-highest-ranked prospect and the highest-ranked of the organization's two top 100 pitchers, left-hander Liam Doyle, got the nod for the team in a Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals on Friday.

The Spring Breakout games are meant to highlight the top prospects within respective organizations and Doyle was named the Cardinals' starter against the Nationals.

The 21-year-old southpaw struggled in his start. He was pulled in the second inning and finished his outing with three strikeouts, four walks and four earned runs allowed on two hits (both doubles) in one inning pitched.

Doyle was selected by St. Louis with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Tennessee.

In his first summer with the organization, the Cardinals allowed Doyle to make one start apiece with the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals and Double-A Springfield Cardinals. He had six strikeouts, walked two batters and allowed one earned run on three hits (one home run) in 3.2 innings pitched across his two outings.

Doyle didn't allow a free base or an earned run in his sole Double-A start.

Despite showing encouraging stuff in his cup of coffee in the minor leagues and being a premium draft pick, St. Louis opted to be slow and cautious with Doyle and didn't extend him a non-roster invite to spring training.

The former Tennessee product is still designated as being assigned to Double-A according to his MiLB player page.

Doyle has the following scouting report according to MLB Pipeline:

A natural pronator, Doyle will have to work to find a set of breaking balls that can fool pro hitters. He’ll display a low-80s version — he’s shown it as a curveball but it has more slurvy/slider shape — that can catch too much of the plate, and a harder version in the upper 80s that acts like a cutter. Some evaluators see him as a future high-octane closer, while others believe the current ingredients are too good to keep him away from starting, noting that Max Scherzer also came with concerns about his high level of intent. 

If Doyle does stay at the Double-A level, he and the Springfield Cardinals will begin the season against the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at 7:05 p.m. CT on April 3.

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