Cardinals' Rookie of the Year dreams intact as Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal maintain eligibility

Even with the St. Louis Cardinals missing the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, fans left the 2026 campaign feeling better about the future than in years past. Chaim Bloom has not put a timeline on the rebuild, but the prospects at the top level of the minors have created a feeling of optimism among the fanbase.

The Cardinals have been more hesitant than other teams in promoting their top prospects in the past. During the 2026 season, though, we saw that thought process shift more to the aggressive side with the club promoting JJ Wetherholt, Joshua Baez, Quinn Mathews, Cooper Hjerpe, and Leo Bernal this year. Wetherholt was the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award before a wrist injury derailed his second half. Had he won the award, the Cardinals would benefit via the Prospect Promotion Incentive.

While the Cardinals will not be receiving an extra draft pick this season, they will have another chance with two more of their promising rookies. Based on the requirements to be eligible for the PPI, Baez and Bernal give the Cardinals two more opportunities next season.

Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal could earn the Cardinals an extra draft pick with 2027 Rookie of the Year award

In order to be eligible, the prospect must have been on at least two of the three top 100 rankings created by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and/or ESPN. They must then spend most of the season in the majors and win either the Rookie of the Year award in their first season or finish among the top three in Cy Young or MVP awards before reaching arbitration.

Even though the two players are eligible, along with Wetherholt, the Cardinals can only benefit once per season. A player can also award the organization once, so if one of these three players net St. Louis a draft pick, they no longer qualify for PPI. The final limitation is that the player only retains PPI eligibility with their original organization which will hopefully be a non-issue for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are in one of the best positions to gain a pick in 2027, assuming the PPI remains in the new CBA. Along with Wetherholt, both Baez and Bernal are penciled into everyday roles in prime positions to succeed in a deep lineup. The switch-hitting Bernal impressed since making his major league debut in September and is the likeliest option for the starting catcher role next year. If he can continue to hit the ball hard and play solid defense, he has to be a top contender for the first-year award.

He could have fun competition in the projected everyday left fielder Joshua Baez. Of course, the power-hitting prospect announced his presence in the majors with an historic three-homer debut. While we were also treated to his high strikeout rate, Baez also showed power that the Cardinals lineup had been sorely missing most of the season. His year was cut short due to an oblique strain, but the Cardinals were already managing his at-bats in order to retain his rookie eligibility. Even if he did surpass the playing time limit for rookies, Baez would still be able to net the Cardinals a pick with a top-three MVP finish.

Quinn Mathews and Cooper Hjerpe are two arms that debuted this season and will retain their rookie status but will not net the Cardinals an extra pick with an award just yet. Mathews may be a late addition to the eligibility if he can crack top 100 lists this preseason. The lefty was once included on all three lists but had since fallen out due to command concerns.

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