St. Louis Cardinals: Three Rookie of the Year candidates for 2020

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Randy Arozarena #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals safely steals home against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 25, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Randy Arozarena #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals safely steals home against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 25, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MAY 12: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals and starting pitcher Dakota Hudson #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals walk to the dugout prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on May 12, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas /Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MAY 12: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals and starting pitcher Dakota Hudson #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals walk to the dugout prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on May 12, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas /Getty Images) /

The St. Louis Cardinals may not have a top-flight farm system, but they still have talent that could take the league in 2020. Who’s got the best chance to make an immediate impact?

The St. Louis Cardinals have had some amazing rookies in the past 20 years and are infamous for finding no-name players and somehow turning them into valuable weapons in the league. The premier rookie was Albert Pujols all the way back in 2001. He was the last Cardinals player to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Rookie Adam Wainwright led the team in the bullpen in 2006 with Chris Duncan hitting bombs in the outfield. Shelby Miller finished third in rookie of the year in 2013, Aledmys Diaz was a top-five rookie of the year finisher, Jose Martinez batted .309 with an OPS around .900 his first year, Paul DeJong finished second in 2017. The list can keep going and going.

Even in years without a top-ranking farm system, the team finds a way to get young players in the lineup and producing. While they haven’t had a winner of the award since Pujols back in 2001, The Cardinals do have players that could break out and compete for the award in 2020. Who could make waves in the league?