2026 TCNs Top 50 Prospect Countdown

Elissalt, seems typical of many other lightly built young pitchers with a hot arm thats all over the place. He gets low level hitters out by throwing it past them, relying on their lack of discipline. Then, more advanced hitters just wait him out. He comes over the plate more and gets hit, so he tries to counter that by ‘adding a couple ticks’, then blows out his arm. I wish they would have Elissalt dial the FB back a couple MPH and work on control. Placement within the zone. Working in, out, up, down. Work in secondaries, change speed. Find a way to get batters out besides trying to throw it past them. If it doesn’t work, fine, add a few ticks and go until the arm blows. But at least try something that hasn’t already not worked countless times.

Add bb’s thoughtful and enlightening comment to what Kyle and BW said makes following Elissalt all the more interesting.

I see Blaze Jordan as an “add on” to push a trade over the finish line(assuming he’s not taken this week), especially if they look at his Boston org #’s vs Memphis. Love the power potential, but they already have Gorman and Walker to hopefully figure out….

I’ll be a contrarian and state I love the new direction of the new Cards FO in regards to the pitching changes. What the prior FO did is target pitchability guys who were much more command over stuff like McGreevy, Rajcic, Hansen, Robberse, Rincon, and on and on. There were some upside arms sprinkled in like Hence, but the majority of player acquisitions would fall much more on the pitchability side of the spectrum over stuff. Even Mathews was more pitchability over stuff when he joined the org but his velo gain moved him around the spectrum.

The focus on pitchability clearly has not worked given the dearth of young, controllable MLB starters or even SP depth. While McGreevy I have more faith in, the rest I really don’t see with much of a big league future. I for one very much welcome the Elisalts of the org who there is obviously risk, but there is upside they are a mid rotation SP. Many of those other guys even if they are successful, it is just a a SP5 and not a true impact to the orgs future.

I like Padilla at that spot, much more accurate than some of the top 10’s he’s been on nationally. I’m all about “potential to be a star” and “having the raw” talent, etc. You need real results and besides the SB and decent OBP nothing stands out. If at 19, in 2026 at PB, he can put up double digit HRs I will rank him much higher next offseason.

As of now, Dos Santos is higher for me because of better results/numbers in their age 17 seasons in the DSL. Over 1.000 OPS at any level is huge regardless of “potential”.

I only have numbers to go off of obviously, didn’t make it to any DSL games! Hah

As 17 year olds in the DSL: (PA’s are close)
Padilla – .796 OPS, 10 XBH
Miguel Hernandez – .853 OPS, 11 XBH
Dos Santos – 1.022 OPS, 21 XBH

I don’t have a clue on the fielding aspect and don’t think that’s even relevant yet, the Cards need bats and based on the numbers we have to compare equally at 17 y/o, Dos Santos has produced much better.

That’s what I’m basing my thoughts on at that level and age.