photo: Joshua Baez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals prospects defeated their Washington Nationals counterparts by a 9-8 score on Thursday at Roger Dean Stadium. Brian Walton covers the win in words and photos. Among stars were JJ Wetherholt and Joshua Baez.
St. Louis Cardinals Prospects 9, Washington Nationals Prospects 8
(You can read an out-by-out summary and the detailed box score at MLB.com here.)
Here is the Cardinals lineup.
The Cardinals’ pitching plan for Thursday’s Spring Breakout Game was for the trio of Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin and Yhoiker Fajardo to throw three innings each. It didn’t happen, but the Cards won anyway.
Here the starters are standing on the first base line. To the left are manager Jason Isringhausen and guest coaches Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The latter received the loudest ovation during the day.
Accompanied by catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, farm director Larry Day and pitching coach Michael Oh. Doyle walked from the bullpen to the dugout to get started.
Doyle and Joshua Baez.
That 3-3-3 inning plan quickly went out the window when Doyle struggled with his fastball command, twice reaching his per inning pitch count while giving up four runs in the initial two frames. That is right; Doyle returned for the second and left early in both the first and second, totaling just three outs.
Doyle had help, as after inheriting a bases loaded jam in the second inning, reliever Tyler Bradt served up a double that brought in the final three of Doyle’s runners.
The system’s top prospect pitcher Doyle reached 97 mph in the first inning and 98 in the next frame but seemed to have trouble locating his heater for strikes. He walked four and allowed two hits.
Michael Watson showed a 93-mph fastball in a 1-2-3 fourth inning.
Also in the fourth, ceremonial coaching additions Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright made their way to the bullpen, where their final exit would not be noticed.
Down 4-0, the Cardinals chipped away with a single run in the home second and two runs in the fifth. That closed the gap to one run. Their first score came home on a wild throw by the Nats’ second baseman. In the fifth, Joshua Baez blasted a baseball over the left-field fence for two more.
Cardinals No. 4 prospect Joshua Báez crushes a homer 💪
He knew it too. #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/GBeMPqcZ7A
— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2026
After two scoreless innings on the mound, Tanner Franklin got into trouble with two out in the sixth. A walk on a 98-mph fastball was followed by two singles. The latter scored a run that increased the Nats’ lead to 5-3.
The Cardinals seemed to put away the game in the home sixth with five runs. 2025 draftee Ryan Mitchell opened the scoring with a home run smoked to right after swinging and missing for two strikes.
OF Ryan Mitchell became just the third different #STLCards player to hit a Spring Breakout HR, belting a solo blast in his third at-bat.
The 18-year-old was the #STLCards 2nd round pick in last year's MLB Draft out of Houston HS in Germantown, Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/AcR935Y2K6
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) March 20, 2026
With the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Josh Kross hit a ball off the pitcher that veered to the second baseman. Kross reached first as Tai Peete (single) scored. Another run was forced in when Rainiel Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Joshua Baez singled through short, scoring run no. 5 in the sixth.
The Cardinals were set up for another big inning in the eighth, loading the bases with no out. While Deniel Ortiz hit into a 4-6-3 double play, Ryan Campos (HBP) came home. The Cardinals were up 9-5 with three outs to go.
In his third inning of work, the ninth, Fajardo got into trouble. It began with a walk on a 95-mph fastball (He topped at 96). A single and hit by pitch loaded the bases. Third baseman Ortiz made a nice throw on a 5-3 forceout as the runner from third crossed the plate. With two out, a single past third base plated two as the Cardinals’ lead was cut to 9-8.
With the potential tying run on first base, Fajardo secured the final out on a 1-3 play. Cards 9, Nats 8.
Summary
Doyle was charged with four runs, Franklin one and Fajardo three. They each struck out three.
Tanner Franklin blowing fastballs passed guys pic.twitter.com/vx4E9ek8Rn
— Redbird Farmhands (@RedbirdFarmhand) March 19, 2026
Wearing no. 7, JJ Wetherholt was on base three times with two singles and a walk. He scored twice. Jesus Baez also hit two singles, walked and scored.
Joshua Baez cracked a home run, drove in two and scored twice after being hit twice by pitches. Mitchell launched a solo shot.
What is next
On Friday, March 20, Memphis and Springfield head to Port St. Lucie while Peoria and Palm Beach remain home to face the Mets’ Class A teams.
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