Ranking the 15 best St. Louis Cardinals players under 25

#8 2B Nolan Gorman

Nolan Gorman played himself out of fans' minds this year. A 37.6% strikeout rate paired with a .203/.271/.400 slash line will do that to a player. However, Gorman still has great value as a left-handed power hitter whose defense has shown improvements since his rookie year. If Gorman, 24, can limit his swing-and-miss tendencies, he could become a power hitter for the Cardinals for years to come.

#7 RHP Tink Hence

Like Tekoah Roby and Cooper Hjerpe, Hence has dealt with his fair share of injuries. However, when he's been healthy, there have been few right-handed pitchers with as dominant stuff in the minors as Tink. Hence, 22, finished 2024 with a 2.71 ERA in 79.2 innings for the Springfield Cardinals. He struck out 109 batters as well. If he can maintain his health, Hence stands to be a viable starting pitcher in any rotation, especially the Cardinals'.

#6 OF Chase Davis

This is where the list begins seeing more toss-ups. Any one of Gorman, Hence, or Chase Davis could be swapped with the other. However, I have to settle things eventually.

The Cardinals' first-round draft pick in 2023, Davis is an athletic outfielder who has some pop to his swing. He played at three levels in 2024 -- Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. He saw the most success in High-A Peoria with a .301/.388/.451 slash line. His .179 ISO in Double-A Springfield paired with a sterling 16.1% K rate shows he has the potential to be a strong offensive player. Davis, 22, has seen time in all three outfield spots, though he probably best profiles as a corner outfielder.