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Guest analyst @KareemSSN discusses potential #stlcards draft picks at fifth overall with a focus on three college LH pitchers, Kade Anderson (p), Liam Doyle and Jamie Arnold, and three high school shortstops, Ethan Holliday, Eli Willits and JoJo Parker. https://t.co/NDaqkfoO1O pic.twitter.com/NdfVJpcoHk
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 25, 2025
To me trying to save on pick 5 to have money later would be the wrong choice. The Cards have a very high pool at $14 million and they won’t be picking this high again. Pools went up a good amount this year at the top and many guys will likely be underslot.
Doyle just has too much reliever risk. As Kareem said, he doesn’t carry his velocity into starts and he has a violent delivery. I just don’t see him being a big league SP.
Interesting to hear Kareem so high on Jojo Parker. He has been moving up boards and I can understand why and would have a hard time picking between him and Eli Willits. I do like that Parker has more power potential and can have more impact at the plate.
I would be looking the most at Eli Willits, Jojo Parker, Aiva Arquette, and Kade Anderson. Arquette is probably tops for me at this point as he has a real impact bat potential with power projection. Anderson seems to have separated himself as the clear best pitching prospect and I would have him in a tier above Ethan Holliday due to his swing and miss concerns.
. @kyler416 is back as we discuss #stlcards’ Tuesday roster moves including Ralston, Showalter and Burns. Wetherholt is going to the Futures Game, but several others were bypassed. FSL Player of the Week (Deniel Ortiz) is noted as is how TCN’s June Player of the Month Nathan… pic.twitter.com/mbWaGG9jcU
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 2, 2025
Nice to have Kyle back this week. That will be interesting to have Kyle and Kareem on at the same time.
Regarding Wetherholt, BA keeps talking like he could be up even this year, but I don’t see that. I think the org needs to move Wetherholt to Memphis though when the draft occurs. He is performing very well and has a fun line of walking more than striking out. They may want his power numbers to go up, but his doubles power has been there just not the HR power. Get him to AAA and let him work toward goals to make the 2026 Opening Day roster.
I would maybe be aggressive and try to make a Brewers type of deal like they did with Chourio with Wetherholt. Wetherholt should be a safe valuable big leaguer with good upside. Lock him down to buy out a couple of years of FA. Doing it early he shouldn’t cost too much. There is obvious risk, but a lot of upside as well to save the team money long term. I will say it should be done after Opening Day. There is that weird clause where if they signed a long term deal, if they make the prospect promotion criteria you don’t get a comp pick.
This week, @kyler416 and I discuss JJ Wetherholt’s promo, recap the #STLCards' June Player and Pitcher of the Month, Deniel Ortiz and Hancel Rincon, and other candidates. We look at how the first five selections in the draft may fall out and share our guesses as to who will be… pic.twitter.com/CGTN4Qw1oo
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 9, 2025
Don't miss our extended pod this week! @kyler416 and I are joined by @KareemSSN to cover all aspects of the #STLCards' 2025 draft. We begin with how the first round played out. Many of the organization’s 21 picks are reviewed in what was clearly a different focus in this draft.… pic.twitter.com/EcJEM36Oi6
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 16, 2025
Good session on the draft!
I always try to find diamonds in the rough with each draft. You mentioned one in Ty Van Dyke. ERA of 1.71, BAA of .175, and 71 Ks in 47.1 innings. That’s impressive, even though the level of competition may not be that high. You also mentioned Kaden Echeman, whom I also liked. 87 Ks in 56 innings. Ethan Yiung is another K guy, with 92 in 70.1 innings. Lots of swing and miss with the pitchers. That’s exciting.
As far as position players, you already mentioned Cameron Nickens. 1.288 OPS with 18 dingers and 71 RBI. Again, lower competition level, but the numbers are very exciting.
One last guy that I highlighted is Trevor Haskins, the SS from Stanford.
You didn’t mention him. Why was he still there in the 15th round?
He had a .326/.370/.575/.945 slash line with 14 homers in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. Good size at 6’1” and 194 lbs. I like him better than 8th round pick SS Ryan Weingartner out of Penn State. Did any of the media guys ask about him, Brian?Another extended pod! @kyler416 and I review pitching moves of the week, including McGreevy, Rajcic, Winquest and Davis and how spending differed from prior #STLCards drafts. We place draftees in our personal Cards top 50s, where they rank relative to other prospects and why.… pic.twitter.com/s4XvNjiKsX
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 23, 2025
Catching up watching the draft episode. I really enjoy getting the 3 takes. I was concerned it may feel crowded, but you guys played off each other.
I’m not sure I agree with Kareem that Doyle will move as fast as Mathews did to get to AAA. Doyle’s fastball is incredible. But his splitter and slider have flashed plus potential but both needs work to be consistent. I would see Doyle splitting his time between A+ and AA unless he comes in after an offseason and his non fastball pitches have progressed a lot. I would be looking at a mid 2027 for Doyle. His potential is by far and away the best of the college pitchers, but also needs more seasoning than an Arnold or Anderson.
Still not a fan of Franklin as a pick as much. He does have upside, but I still am unsure why they took him over a more high upside HS SS instead there as there were a few good ones available like Coy James who Kyle mentioned as well.
I’m a little surprised neither none of you had Gurevitch as one of their liked picks. The more I look at him the more I really like him. He seems like a pure hitter who is not your typical 1B / power hitter size, but he has a great amount of pop in his bat. May as well start him off in LF and see if he can cover enough grass to fake it out there at the beginning of his career. 110 EV90 is really good and is higher than the average player’s max EV.
Definitely don’t agree about liking all the pitcher picks. There were a few I didn’t like, although admittedly I haven’t done nearly as much digging on the data as Kareem and Kyle have. Some cases it isn’t the pitcher I don’t like as in Franklin’s case, but the other talents available out there. 4 of the top 6 picks were pitchers. Doyle obviously needs to work out of be a successful draft, but I think they need some type of at least starting material position player out of this draft as well. The position players is where the farm is actually the weakest in my opinion on upside.
I’m unsure where I would rank the new prospects. Doyle is most likely #2 at this point with Mathews having such horrible control problems. Something has to be wrong there still I imagine. After that unsure where the other new guys would be and I will have to spend some time updating my list when I have a chance. I’m surprised Kyle has 14 of the 21 picks are on his list. I would spitball about 6-8 or so would for me which is more around your range Brian.
Agreed on the pool as it is odd to not use as close to as much as possible. I wonder if the Cards were caught off guard with Doyle being there and didn’t have as good of a read on if he wanted slot or a little under for the #5 pick. I think you do make a good point it isn’t an accident though and felt intentional with the amount. I really hope to see it not continue as a pattern going forward.
I do agree with Kyle though that I like the general trend of the upside and stuff based approach with the pitchers that were selected. The Cards have long selected guys with very weak fastballs who have low upside and low floors since they most likely won’t reach the bigs. Shoot for the guys with upside instead so you can maybe get some starting quality players.
I’m not nearly as in love with Davis as Kyle and would most likely have Mitchel over him. That isn’t as much a vote of confidence in Mitchell and more so less in Davis overall. Davis walks a lot because he doesn’t swing the bat. And when he does swing, nothing good happens as he is a ground ball maniac who refuses to try and do some damage with the ball and at least hit line drives.
I do like Crossland as well, but would have Gurevitch over him and I may have Gurevitch over Mitchell and Franklin. Crossland had what was potentially the 2nd best college changeup in the draft and his fastball is plus as well. Gurevitch has a great approach as he hits to all fields and has really good pop in there while taking walks and not striking out. I want to see him hit pro fastballs well and get a shot in LF, but the tools to me are there for a valuable contributor and a strong side platoon bat even at a low end defensive value spot.
Ethan Young does not seem like the steal of the draft to me. Not sold on him and I have Payton Graham higher. Agree with Brian about Miura as I know others are excited about him, but I don’t see it as much.
In this week's podcast, @kyler416 and I cover a lot of #stlcards ground, from Roby to the pitching pipeline to Wetherholt. The promotions of Ortiz and Dutkanych and progress of catchers Bernal and Crooks are discussed, as are expectations for tomorrow's trade deadline.… pic.twitter.com/BBZwzUoKXl
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 30, 2025
It doesn’t sound like Crooks and Bernal are as close as we all would like them to be. I think Brian and Kyle nailed what would/should happen @ the trade deadline.
Regarding Roby, you mentioning his option year again made me think about Zack Thompson being awarded an extra option year. I bet Roby would get that if the Cards requested it reading the rules around it given how much IL time he has had.
There are specific rules regarding the amount of IL and active time. I just haven’t yet gone back through the details. It could matter after next season.
BTW, a new episode drops in the morning. Here is my (not complete) summary:
It is another busy week as Brian and Kyle start with the six minor leaguers the St. Louis Cardinals acquired via trade at the deadline. They discuss a pair of interesting waiver wire moves as well as the implications of another starting pitcher injury at the upper levels. The Cardinal Nation’s Player and Pitcher of the Month are recognized before the two conclude with a review of the newly activated players from the 2025 draft class.
I really look forward to hearing the discussion on the guys as Kyle and you are more critical than the fans here and point out weak spots of players which is needed rather than getting everyone’s hopes up.
Busy day today and a lot of exciting players moves like Gurevitch being activated on Palm Beach.
We try to be realistic, noting the good as well as the things that need to be improved. It isn’t news that everyone is trying to get better.
In our busy podcast, @kyler416 and I start with the six minor leaguers the #stlcards acquired via trade. Next, a pair of waiver wire moves and another starting pitcher injury. TCN’s Player and Pitcher of the Month are noted and we review the first activated players from the 2025… pic.twitter.com/1IGJGtJkUU
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) August 6, 2025
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