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#15 Sandro Santana – 2.11 ERA, 1.016 Whip, 14.2 SO at three levels and he seemed to improve as he moved upat each level (a factor with top prospects that often indicates someone very special). I expect him to make the Cardinal team opening the season, especiaiiy if there is a delay to the mlb season. Another stint at Memphis would really make it happen. A chance that he would become the closer by the end of the season. In this day of baseball relief pitchers especially closers ar key to chamtionships.
#16 Miguel Hernandez, a good fielding infielder with some pop. And only 18. Another good comedity in todays ame.
“Santana has 33 innings above A+ level.”
That’s basically true. (Including the AAA postseason, his grand total is 36.1 innings above A-Ball.)
In those 36.1 innings across Double-A and triple-A, Sandro permitted only 4 runs, on 11 hits, and fanned 57 men. I’d like to say that minor league pitchers whose strikeouts are 5X their hits allowed over a solid sample size in the upper minors tend to go on to great MLB success. But I can’t say that. Because there’s no such thing as another pitcher who ever had 5X as many strikeouts as hits allowed over a solid sample size in the upper minors.
Santana may not make the opening day roster, but he will be in the bullpen by mid season. Like I said, I expect him to be better than Romero was for us, at least by the metrics. That was 4 bWAR (1.8 fWAR, FG didn’t like him as much). Lest you put that number down, in the extremely deep 2018 class, where 39 of the 65 votees made the big leagues, 4 WAR would have ranked 14th, between Austin Gomber (who we voted 10th) and Dylan Carlson (who we voted 18th). Even for extremely stacked farm systems, it’s unusual to have all that many guys become multiple year average or above contributors. I think Santana has one of the highest probabilities to become just that of any prospect we have.
I have Santana coming up soon on my list, but I want to point out the issue that will be coming up with him this coming year. At some point the strike out pitchers find out they can’t just throw it past everybody like they always have. He wasn’t in AAA long enough for batters and orgs to get familiar, but it will be a thing this coming season. Sometimes they have enough in their bag of tricks to get past that. Sometimes they reach back for a little more, and a little more until they blow out their arm. Moving up too fast, before learning the art of facing more advanced batters, is hazardous.
I just can’t take a reliever yet, even with Santanas dominance. For example, if Doyle, Franklin, or an Odle get shifted to the bullpen they are less valuable IMO. Some of these shifts are going to happen, but not without a long leash at starting. There are just too many position players and starting pitching candidates that I have ranked higher. In past years Santana might be a top 10 possibility.
I’m with you Cardinals27 on taking a reliever, and I’m tired of simply being Bob Reed’s lap dog in every vote.
Bob could focus a little more at scratching behind my ears.
15 Miguel Hernandez
16 Sandro Santanawe need a closer, but I don’t think that should affect the way I vote.
I like Santana, but I think our farm is so deep with good quality, that Starting pitchers and Position Players have precedent over any reliever.
that being said, I do have Santana coming up rather soon.
Tabulating results this morning has been quite the roller coaster, to say the least. There are a few votes that could trickle in (looking at you, Puggs, mudville and forsch, among others who’ve voted in the past), but I was convinced several times that we were on the way to clear #15 and 16 candidates, only to have to switch it back up. Any of four players could well end up in these slots in any order, so get your votes in before 12 PM CT/1 PM ET!!
With that last vote, we are now closing the voting for our #15 and 16 prospects. Your #15 prospect, by a whisker, is Alexander Frias, OF. Also just eking out his spot is our #16 prospect, Miguel Hernandez, IF. Congrats, young men!!
1. Rainiel Rodriguez, C
2. Quinn Mathews, LHP
3. Liam Doyle, LHP
4. Leo Bernal, C
5. Joshua Baez, OF
6. Tanner Franklin, RHP
7. Cooper Hjerpe, LHP
8. Jesus Baez, IF
9. Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP
10. Jurrangelo Cijntje, SHP
11. Trevor Condon, OF
12. Tai Peete, OF
13. Sebastian Dos Santos, IF
14. Tekoah Roby, RHP
15. Alexander Frias, OF
16. Miguel Hernandez, IFVoting is now open for the 17th and 18th ranked prospects. Voting will close at 12 PM CT/1 PM ET on Wednesday, November 4th.
I had Frias at 16th in my list, so he was coming up. I like the possible power, but he’s got the Jordan Walker/Jason Heyward syndrome. Hernandez I had 28th, being a notch below Dos Santos for me and just so far away.
For my next picks, I’ll rinse and repeat…
17. Sandro Santana, LHP. Dominant relievers absolutely can belong up in the list and I think he’ll start proving it as soon as 2027.
18. Mason Molina, LHP. He’ll probably get starts for a few years, which is plenty good for this part of the voting.
17 ~ Tegan Kuhns… not in the Top 10. Okay, deep farm, maybe an argument can be made. Not in the Top 15. What are we doing here? 32nd overall pick, rated anywhere from 15th to 30th on most draft boards. Tennessee’s Friday starter, lone bright spot for the Vols this year. Excellent fastball, Excellent curveball, excellent control/command. Penalizing players for being in college is a new thing? Kuhns for 17!!! Bumper Stickers being made.
18 ~ Emanuel Luna. He got hurt…doesn’t matter. He’s a better rated prospect than any of the players that played DSL in 2025.
17. Kuhns
18. MolinaI understand the sentiment on Santana. However, Kuhns could throw 300 innings across a couple seasons. Same with Molina. It might take Santana 5 or 6 seasons to get there. Short relievers have value, but it’s hard to compare to a starter with similar pitching weapons. I do have Santana coming up at 22 though. He has been utterly dominant especially as of late, which is good because the Cards BP needs left handed help. He should be up there soon.
17. Kuhns
18. MolinaNot sure if people think Flores missed by taking Kuhns at the end of the first round or if the A ball batting lines are just too irresistable.
I won’t go gaga over Santanadana’s 33 innings above A ball. Sorry.
#17 – Josiah Ragsdale
#18 – Tegan KuhnsRagsdale performed well last year and shows upside. Kuhns will quiet the doubters this year and show why he was a high draft pick.
17 Ragsdale, he has scouts grading him a 70 for speed which translates to above average defense. Add the potential for 20-25 homers and you have someone special.
18 Molina was really good down the stretch for Memphis. He seemed to figure out the MLB baseball. He has a chance to figure in the 2027 rotation at some time.
Kuhns would be my next choice.
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