The Cardinals’ 2020 MLB Draft could end up being historic

The St. Louis Cardinals may be on their way to one of the best draft classes we have seen as their 2020 class continues to dazzle.

For all of the frustration fans have had with the St. Louis Cardinals early playoff exits in the last two years, the pure excitement that just one draft class could bring to this organization may completely flip the narrative.

Assistant GM and scouting director Randy Flores received a multi-year extension from the Cardinals this last week, and it’s easy to see why with the level of talent the Cardinals organization currently has. Even with graduations of prospects like Dylan Carlson, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, and Juan Yepez over the last few seasons, the Cardinals still boast six top 100 prospects in MLB.com’s most recent rankings.

What is most exciting about the Cardinals farm system is the amount of talent that they picked out of the abbreviated 2020 MLB draft, where their first four selections were Jordan Walker, Maysn Winn, Tink Hence, and Alec Burleson. Fans of the Cardinals have been growing in their awareness of these prospects over the last two years, but it appears the rest of baseball is beginning to take major stock in their talent as well.

Multiple factors have contributed to the national media bringing hype to this draft class. First and most importantly, these youngsters are dominating, and their potential is now being backed up by performance as well. National stages like the Futures Game, Arizona Fall League, and even some MLB playing time for Burleson have allowed all four to get credit and recognition.

Let’s look at how this could end up being a historic draft haul for the Cardinals organization.

Jordan Walker

It’s hard to overstate how much excitement Cardinals fans should have about Jordan Walker. Simply put, this guy is incredible, and all signs are pointing to him being a legitimate superstar. 

Everywhere you look now, Walker’s name is being brought up by national baseball voices, scouting organizations, and even MLB themselves. And rightfully so, as Walker has done nothing but impress to this point in his professional career.

Walker in his first 201 games at the minor league level is slashing .310/.388/.525 with 33 HR and 116 RBI, adding in 36 SB for good measure. In 119 games for AA Springfield this year, Walker hit .306/.388/.510 with 19 HR and 68 RBI while making highlight plays and transitioning to his new position in the outfield. Due to this, Walker has risen to become a top 10 prospect in all of baseball.

With his current performance in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .300/.362/.525 wit 2 HR and 9 RBI in 11 games, many believe the 20-year old will be the number 1 prospect in baseball before the 2023 MLB season. Walker is consistently amazing scouts with his mix of power, speed, and bat to ball skills, already looking like a force at the plate and the early favorite for NL Rookie of the Year.

Plenty will be written and discussed about Walker before the 2023 season, and as long as he has a good Spring Training, there is no reason Walker should not be in the Cardinals’ Opening Day lineup this coming season. Walker has nothing left to prove in the minor league level, it’s time to unleash him against the best in the game.

Masyn Winn is catching eyes as an emerging star

Masyn Winn was originally drafted as a two-way prospect in the second round by the Cardinals, but quickly became a full-time shortstop to allow him to focus on becoming an elite defender. Lately, Winn’s emerging bat has raised the ceiling of just how good the 20-year old could be.

In 2022 across High A and mostly AA, Winn slashed .283/.364/.468 with 12 HR and 63 RBI, being nominated to the MLB Futures Game alongside Walker and flashing an 80-grade arm. The shortstop is currently the 51st ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, but many around the league have him jumping even higher, with Keith Law ranking him at number 19 in August (subscription required).

Winn and Walker have followed each other throughout the minor leagues to this point, and that has allowed scouts to get better glimpses at the insane tools that Winn has as well as the unexpected production at the plate. Many speculated that his fielding would be what carried him, but Winn is looking more and more like a well-rounded, star shortstop in the making.

There is a reason why the Washington Nationals were going to want Walker and Winn in any deal for Soto. Walker may be one of the best players in the game before long, and Winn could be one of the best shortstops as well. These two are making headlines almost daily, and provide an exciting future for St. Louis.

Tink Hence has the stuff of an ace

Standing at 6’1, 175 pounds, 20-year old Tink Hence has Keith Law wondering if the Cardinals 2020 draft could be an all-timer as well.

In his first full minor league season, hence made 16 starts and had an ERA of 1.38 with 81 SO in just 52.1 innings pitched. The Cardinals have been extremally careful with Hence to this point, opting to slowly bring him along in his development and keep his workload small to start. Regardless, Hence is turning heads every time he touches the mound.

Against some of the best competition in the minor leagues at the Arizona Fall League, Hence has thrown 4 innings allowing 1 run on a home run and striking out three batters while allowing no other hits. Hence has a mid-90s fastball, devasting change up, and developing curveball that should allow him to have a lot of success at the big league level.

Hence has the ceiling of a front-line starter if he continues on his development path and builds up the necessary stamina. If not, his stuff will surely play as a mid-rotation starter or dominate reliever. So far, the Cardinals first three picks have netted them a potential MVP, star shortstop, and pitcher with elite stuff, and still there is one more name that has already found his way to St. Louis.