Cardinals: 4 prospects to know going deeper into Spring Training

The St. Louis Cardinals have a talented farm system that will be on full display during Spring Training, with several players pushing to make the major league roster.

The St. Louis Cardinals farm system has grown by huge strides under the leadership of John Mozeliak, team president of baseball operations, and Gary LaRoque, the team's director of player development.

This season is a prime example of the work the two have put in to make the farm system great. The Cardinals have many exciting young players that have opportunities to impact the club this season. With several members of the Cardinals roster going to the World Baseball Classic in mid-March, these young players will get a huge opportunity to show off their skills and try to make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster.

Let's discuss some of the top prospects Cardinals fans will meet this Spring.

Tink Hence

A Watson Chapel High School graduate in Pine Bluff, Ark., Tink Hence has a tremendous arm at just 20. He was the Cardinals' second-round draft pick in 2020.

In 2021, Hence played for the FCL Cardinals and moved up to the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2022. He played for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, earning him a non-roster invite to Cardinals Spring Training.

Hence has been impressive this spring.

With a tremendous arsenal of pitches, Hence will be given plenty of opportunity to shine this spring. While he did well in the Arizona Fall League, seeing the youngster advance to the Major League level may be a big stretch this season.

Hence is playing to give the fans and the organization a glimpse at what could be possible from the young flame-thrower. He's also playing to give the organization an idea of where he will be fit to play in the organizations this Summer. It's most likely fans will see Hence in either Peoria or Springfield. Either squad will give the young man plenty of opportunity to develop in the organization, earn some innings and continue to impress.

Gordon Graceffo

Graceffo was drafted from Villanova in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Villanova. He is a prospect that's turning some heads this spring. Last season he played for the Peoria Chiefs and was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals.

According to MLBPipeline.com, Graceffo has a unique windup with a kinetic motion that can make him more challenging for hitters to pick up. He uses a mix of a fastball, a slider, and a sinking changeup. He also has an offspeed curveball.

MLBPipeline said, "Graceffo’s special command gives him a promising floor as a No. 5 starter, and he can be more if he uses the breadth of his arsenal to generate more whiffs."

With so many questions on the starting rotation, that's promising information regarding Graceffo. He will be an essential player to watch this Spring and will likely get some playing time when Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The starting rotation has suffered plenty of injuries over the past few seasons. Having a promising young starting pitcher make his way to the starting rotation from within the farm system would be a relief. Graceffo will be a fun player to watch.

Jordan Walker

Probably the most exciting young prospect to come from the Cardinals organization in some time, Jordan Walker has set his sight set to be with the Cardinals on Opening Day at Busch Stadium.

Walker was the first-round draft pick, the 21st overall, by the Cardinals in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Decatur High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. Walker opted out of his commitment to play baseball at Duke University after signing a $2.9 million bonus with the Cardinals. He signed as a third baseman but quickly moved to the outfield after the team traded to get 10-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman Nolan Arenado.

It's been a successful endeavor for the 20-year-old. MLBPipeline.com said of Walker, "He’s still a work in progress with his reads and routes. He’s a better runner than his size would indicate, and even if he slows down as he matures, he could be a serviceable corner outfielder."

Walker has a great bat and speed on the basepaths. During his time in the minors, he's hit .310/.388/.525 with an OPS of .913. He's had 33 home runs and 116 RBI. Walker spent his time last season with Springfield and earned a trip to play for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He's already hit a massive home run at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. He hit a 108.9 mph home run 430 feet off Florida Marlins pitcher Johnny Cueto. Imagine that at Busch Stadium.

Seeing how things come together this Spring for Walker will be fun. He said he wants to be in the outfield on opening day at Busch Stadium. He wants to be part of the pomp and circumstance. He's undoubtedly performing to make his goal a reality. Walker should be an Opening Day mainstay for the Cardinals for years to come, but here's hoping he arrives a little early and fans see him at Busch Stadium on March 30.