3 St. Louis Cardinals ranked in Baseball America’s Top 50 prospects

Nolan Gorman #81 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the New York Mets during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Nolan Gorman #81 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action against the New York Mets during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

3 St. Louis Cardinals ranked in Baseball America’s Top 50 prospects, with fast-rising prospect Jordan Walker coming in the top-25.

A primary goal for St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has been to build the team to win, both in the present and the future. He has successfully acquired Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, two Hall of Fame caliber players, without decimating the team’s farm system.

Now, Mozeliak is on the verge of seeing the reward for his patience. Top prospects Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore are expected to make their long awaited debuts in 2022 while Jordan Walker continues to receive hype as one of the best young prospects in baseball.

Baseball America recently released their annual Top 100 ranking and all three players finished in the top 50, with Walker ranking No. 24, Gorman No. 34 and Liberatore No. 50.

It continues a meteoric rise for Walker, who is drawing praise as perhaps the Cardinals’ best hitting prospect since Oscar Taveras. He has easily surpassed Gorman as their best prospect and, if he indeed reaches his potential, will be their long-term answer at first base or elsewhere in the future, with scouts mixed on what his defensive outlook will ultimately be.

Gorman will be the long-term answer at second or third base depending on Nolan Arenado’s decision to opt out after the 2022 season. He has 30-plus homer type potential and is going to be a cornerstone type player for the next decade in St. Louis.

Liberatore, meanwhile, could debut as a reliever in 2022 — it’s how teams prefer to introduce their top pitching prospects – before joining the rotation in 2023. The Cardinals believe he will be a top-of-the-rotation starter, remaining confident in the trade that netted Liberatore and sent star outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Tampa Bay Rays.

MLB Insider thinks St. Louis Cardinals should consider this Nolan Gorman trade. dark. Next

We will get our first glimpse at Liberatore and Gorman in 2022, with Walker debuting as soon as 2023. Get ready. The future is on the verge of arriving.