#15 RHP Tekoah Roby
Tekoah Roby was once a top-100 prospect in all of baseball while with the Texas Rangers. Injuries have hampered his progression, however, and he's struggled to get a full season under his belt since being drafted in 2020. Roby, 23, made only 10 appearances this year. He threw a total of 38.1 innings between Double-A Springfield and Single-A Palm Beach. He finished the year with a 6.57 ERA and 39 strikeouts. He's getting close to "bust" zone if he continues to get hurt, but the potential to be a solid starting pitcher is still there.
#14 C Jimmy Crooks
Get ready to know Jimmy Crooks's name if you don't already. The left-handed hitting backstop had made quite the name for himself this year. He finished with a .321/.410/.498 slash line at Double-A Springfield to go along with 11 home runs and 101 total hits. Crooks, 23, has received rave reviews about his growth as a play caller and a receiver behind the plate. If he continues to progress at this level, he could be pushing the major league roster come 2026.
#13 LHP Cooper Hjerpe
The Cardinals have been methodical with Cooper Hjerpe's development after drafting him in 2022. He has not thrown more than 52.1 innings yet as a minor leaguer due to injuries and surgeries. The southpaw has a funky sidearm slot that baffles hitters at times. He finished his 2024 minor league campaign with a 3.27 ERA in 52.1 innings scattered between Peoria and Springfield. He also struck out 76 batters. Hjerpe is only 23 still, but the organization could stand to increase his workload to prepare him for the majors.
#12 CF Victor Scott II
I still believe in Victor Scott II, but his performance this year in the majors and minors has given me some pause. He's still going to be an elite defender in center field, but his speed and on-base tendencies he flashed in 2023 have since faded. He finished 2024 with a .179/.219/.283 slash line at the major league level. Scott is only 23, and there are few players on this list who could benefit more than he with a revamped player development system.