photo: Brian Holiday (Oklahoma State University Athletics)
The second of three days of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, with the St. Louis Cardinals selections’ being made by AGM/Scouting Director Randy Flores, consists of eight selections in rounds 3-10 on Monday, July 15.
St. Louis’ initial Day 2 selection is Oklahoma State right-handed pitcher Brian Holiday, MLB Pipeline’s no. 223 draft prospect.
Overall, encompassing these eight picks and the first-round selection named on Sunday, infielder J.J. Wetherholt, the Cardinals have been allocated a signing bonus total of $10,213,000, 17th most of the 30 organizations. They will almost certainly not exceed that by more than 5% as their selections are signed in the upcoming days.
See the Cardinals full 2024 Draft Day 1 details here.
Cardinals Select J.J. Wetherholt on 2024 MLB Draft’s First Day
Update: Draft day 2 summary
Overall, in the first two days, the Cardinals took four pitchers, two left-handers and two right-handers. They also added two catchers, a shortstop (in the first round), a third baseman and an outfielder (in the 10th round).
The position player script flipped from 2022/2023 to 2024. Last year, St. Louis selected four outfielders in the first two days but no infielders or catchers for the second year in a row.
Same as in 2022 and 2023, St. Louis passed over high schoolers completely, This year’s mix includes seven college juniors, a sophomore and a senior. Several may be money-saving picks amid rumors that first rounder J.J. Wetherholt may be an overslot sign.
The Big 12 was the predominant conference with six of the organization’s nine picks to date. Asked about that, Scouting Director Randy Flores said, “It is just the way it happened to be.”
I asked him about the lack of high schoolers. Flores noted, “The draft is not over.” He also said the “signability” of the prep players they were interested in “didn’t match up” with their pool plans. He also remarked that no second rounder (and associated pool allocation of $2,224,700) was a factor.
Regarding the quantity of under 6-foot players selected, Flores noted that some players can “get a lot out of their body despite their size” and that some pitchers have an advantage with a lower release point.
For more
Return to this article at The Cardinal Nation often on Monday afternoon and evening as information about all St. Louis’ day 2 draft picks will be posted shortly after they are made.
To reference the Cardinals’ new draft class on an ongoing basis here at The Cardinal Nation, each player will have a profile located on a holding team called “DRAFT UNSIGNED PLAYERS”. This can be accessed at the bottom of the drop-down menu in the red column in the left menu called “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” or click here.
St. Louis’ selections – 2024 Draft Day 2
Third round, 80th overall
Brian Holiday, right-handed pitcher
Oklahoma State, junior
5’11/203 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Tampa, FL
The 2024 All-Big 12 selection began as a reliever at two schools before joining the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where his coach was Josh Holliday, brother of former Cardinal Matt (unrelated to Brian).
In his junior year , Holiday allowed 82 hits and 19 walks with a conference-best 128 strikeouts in 113 innings.
Sporting an old-fashioned high leg kick and 12-6 curveball, overall Holiday was 24-4 with a 2.63 ERA (253 2/3 IP), six saves, and 343 strikeouts in 55 games (33 starts) in three collegiate seasons with Oklahoma State (2024), Central Florida Junior College (2023) and Florida Southwestern State Junior College (2022).
At Central Florida, Holiday led national JUCO pitchers in strikeouts and helped his team with the Junior College World Series, from which he was named Most Outstanding Pitcher.
Holiday’s best pitch is a slider. His fastball is 91-93 mph. The 21-year-old is deceptive with good command and mound presence. He projects as a backend starter or middle reliever.
Flores called Holiday “competitive, intriguing and compelling”, saying that he “gained momentum and continued to improve”.
The pool amount for this pick is $964,500. So, given his 223rd ranking per MLB Pipeline, this looks to be a money-saving pick by the Cardinals.
Fourth round, 109th overall
Ryan Campos, catcher
Arizona State University, junior
5’8, 190 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/R
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
The left-handed hitter is known for average over power. He has good leadership skills, but is considered fringy behind the plate.
In his junior campaign at Arizona State this spring, Campos slashed .364/.461/.610/1.071 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI in 58 games. He reached base in 137 of 147 career games, including 57 of 58 contests in 2024. His career .369 batting average as a Sun Devil was tops among all Division I catchers.
Campos was twice named to the Pac-12 First Team, in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Flores admitted the term is hard to define, but called Campos “a baseball player, well rounded.” He noted it can be difficult to ascertain how much game calling experience a catcher has, but through their interviews, Campos knew the “pulse of his staff” and “he has always hit.”
The pool amount for this pick is $669,300. Again, at the number 176 draft eligible player per MLB Pipeline, Campos may be a budget-saving selection for the Cardinals.
Fifth round, 142nd overall
Braden Davis, left handed pitcher
University of Oklahoma, junior
5’11, 180 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/L
Hometown: Keller, Texas
After being a successful reliever as a freshman and sophomore at Sam Houston State, Davis transferred to Oklahoma, where he became an All-Big 12 starting pitcher as the Sooners’ Friday night starter.
In 92 innings in his junior year, Davis posted a 4.30 ERA with a team-best 117 strikeouts that ranked 17th in the nation. He held opposing batters to .208 average and issued 41 walks. Davis earned 2024 All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors.
Over his career, Davis went 14-9 with a 3.86 ERA (in 154 innings) and 198 strikeouts in 51 games (16 starts) between Oklahoma and Sam Houston State.
Davis’ change-up is his best pitch with good fading action. His fastball is in the low-90’s, topping out at 95 mph, along with a slider. He is projected as a major league lefty reliever.
Flores said, “It’s always nice to get a left-hander.” The scouting director noted that Davis has “sneaky deception and throws strikes.”
The pool amount for this pick is $485,700. Davis was not ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 250 draft prospects.
Sixth round, 171st overall
Josh Kross, catcher
University of Cincinnati, junior
6’2, 226 pounds
Bats/Throws: B/R
Hometown: Brunswick, Ohio
When the selection of Kross was announced, neither Jonathan Mayo or Jim Callis initially had any information on the Cardinals’ second catcher taken in their first five picks. MLB also had no graphic prepared about Kross.
Kross is an offense-first switch-hitting catcher who can also play first base. In 2024, he was second in the Big 12 in home runs and RBI (notice the early Cardinals concentration on this conference). Kross’ defense is not considered to be as advanced as his offense.
He began at Eastern Michigan before joining the Bearcats for the 2024 season. In his junior year with Cincinnati, Kross batted .317 with 19 home runs, 65 RBI, 14 doubles, 50 runs scored, a .638 slugging percentage, and he absorbed 26 hit-by-pitches!
This season, Kross was named First-Team All-Big 12 and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region.
This summer pre-draft, Kross played for the Keene Swamp Bats of the the New England Collegiate Baseball League. There, he hit .340 with three long balls and 21 RBI in just 12 games.
Flores praised Kross’ bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. He noted the Cardinals were “looking for upside in the sixth round” and catching skills can be improved in terms of framing and receiving.
The pool amount for this pick is $369,100.
Seventh round, 201st overall
Andrew Dutkanych, right handed pitcher
Vanderbilt University, sophomore
6’3, 230 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
The right-hander is a draft-eligible sophomore and because the Cardinals selected him, he is expected to be signable.
Dutkanych’s best pitch is his 92-94 mph fastball. He also throws a mid-80’s power slider and his curveball and changeup are developing.
The 20-year-old has been slowed by injuries at Vandy, appearing in just nine games, throwing just 17 innings over two years. He was slowed by a hamstring injury in 2023 and underwent Tommy John surgery this March.
In other words, Dutkanych is a high-upside, relatively low-risk gamble by the Cardinals. He has the talent or he wouldn’t have been a Commodore, considered one of the best programs in the country. In fact, Baseball Reference ranked him as the 35th-best draft eligible player in the 2022 draft, but he chose to join Vanderbilt.
In his post Day 2 remarks, Flores reminded us that Dutkanych was considered a “top 50-100 prospect out of high school.”
The pool amount for this pick is $288,700.
Eighth round, 231st overall
Jack Findlay, left handed pitcher
University of Notre Dame, junior
6’3, 220 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/L
Hometown: Ledgewood, New Jersey
As a freshman in 2022, Findlay made 12 relief appearances and eight starts. He logged a solid 2.17 ERA, 6-2 record and four saves through 49 2/3 innings with 54 strikeouts.
In 2023, he made five starts and five relief outings with a 4-2 record and 3.79 ERA over 40 1/3 innings. Findlay struck out 54 and only walked 11 batters. However, he required Tommy John surgery that April and did not appear in 2024.
Given the timing of normal TJS recovery, Findlay should be ready to go soon, making this yet another upside play for the Cardinals.
The big, physical lefty has a slider and a big-breaking curve. Findlay also has a low 90s fastball that touches 93-94 mph.
Regarding taking apparent risks with the seventh and eighth round TJS picks, Flores said that Findlay is “further along” than Dutkanych and scouts watched Findlay throwing both prior to and during the recent combine.
Flores noted that Findlay had an almost 30% strikeout rate in 2023 and “pitchers with starter profiles begin to run out earlier than the seventh and eighth rounds.”
The scouting director labeled the two as having “great opportunity profiles later in the draft.”
The pool amount for this pick is $229,000.
Ninth round, 261st overall
Cade McGee, third base
Texas Tech University, junior
6’1, 195 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
McGee, 21, began his college career with two seasons at Gonzaga, where he was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. He transferred to Texas Tech for his 2024 junior season.
This season, the right-handed hitter slashed .282/.450/.580/1.030 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI in 57 games for the Red Raiders. Continuing an interesting theme in this class, McGee was hit by 23 pitches in 2024 when he was an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Considered a good defender, McGee had a .944 fielding percentage with eight errors and 97 assists at the hot corner.
Over his three seasons, McGee has a line of .291/.424/.552/.976 with 31 home runs, 30 doubles, 106 RBI in 132 career games.
McGee went on to play in the Cape Cod League this summer, but did not impress with the bat, hitting .185 with a .594 OPS in 18 games.
Per MLB Pipeline, McGee could develop into having 15-20 home run power in the majors.
The pool amount for this pick is $198,000.
10th round, 291st overall
Bryce Madron, outfielder
University of Oklahoma, senior
5’8/181 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/L
Hometown: Blanchard, Oklahoma
The Cardinals returned to the Oklahoma Sooners with their first senior pick of 2024. Madron is undersized and is probably limited to the corners because he is a fringy runner. The left-handed hitter controls the strike zone well, so can take a walk and is a gap-to-gap hitter.
The 23-year-old began his college years with two seasons at Cowley Community College in Kansas. Between his two years with the Sooners, Madron was very consistent, slashing .319/.459/.593/1.052 in 115 games. He hit 24 home runs, drove in 104 and stole 29 bases in 2023 and 2024.
Along with 2024 fifth-rounder Braden Davis, Madron is the fourth Sooner to be selected by St. Louis in the last three MLB Drafts. They join infielder Dakota Harris (11th round 2023) and catcher Jimmy Crooks (fourth round 2022).
The pool amount for this pick is $185,000.
What is next?
Check back at The Cardinal Nation on Tuesday for details of Day 3 of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Earlier article
Cardinals Select J.J. Wetherholt on 2024 MLB Draft’s First Day
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