The next crop of St. Louis Cardinals prospects

The St. Louis Cardinals, according to various outlets, have one of the best farm systems in Major League Baseball. Players such as Masyn Winn, Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby, and Victor Scott II highlight a farm system with a multitude of high-end pitchers and position players at key spots defensively. These four players will definitely be in St. Louis by 2025, and some are likely to even see time this season.

Behind Winn, Hence, Roby, and Scott II, St. Louis features some guys who have been in the system for quite some time and are scratching the surface of the majors. Gordon Graceffo, Michael McGreevy, and Thomas Saggese are all candidates to see time in the majors this year. The current crop of MLB-ready prospects leans pitcher-heavy, but the position players in Saggese, Scott, and Winn are no slouches either.

While the current top prospects in the system lean towards the pitchers, the next round of young players are more on the position side of things. The ceilings of these players may not be as high as those of Jordan Walker, Tink Hence, and Masyn Winn, but the potential is surely there for the next crop of young players in the Cardinals' farm system.

Here are 7 prospects in the lower minors to watch for 2026 and beyond.

OF Chase Davis

Chase Davis was selected with the 21st overall pick out of the University of Arizona in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft by the Cardinals last year. Davis, 22, has played primarily the corner outfield in his professional career, but St. Louis has tried him in center due to his plus arm and decent speed. Davis drew comparisons to Carlos Gomez, the now-retired lefty slugger who played for the Colorado Rockies during his career.

He had fantastic stats offensively in Arizona, and he slugged 21 home runs in only 57 games in his final year in college. He had some swing-and-miss issues, but his power potential and tendency to draw walks helped balance out his strikeout tendencies. Davis was immediately sent to low-A Palm Beach, and he didn't play up to his college standards.

He struck out nearly 33% of the time, and his slugging percentage was lower than his on-base percentage. Most of the games he played in 2023 for Palm Beach were in center field; he is probably more suited to play the corner outfield, especially if his bat is revived.

Davis is quite young and quite talented; if he can show improvement these next few years, he could be a strong prospect in 2026 for the Cardinals.

C Leonardo Bernal

Leonardo Bernal was chosen by the Cardinals during international free agency in 2021. He was signed for $680,000 out of Panama, and he was very familiar with international baseball due to his participation in the Little League World Series and the U-15 World Cup in 2018. The Cardinals have been aggressive with the 20-year-old backstop thus far after inviting him to Spring Training in 2022.

Bernal is a switch-hitter who is balanced on all facets of his game. His highest-ranking scouting grade according to MLB.com is his arm and his fielding ability. His hit tool is the next best attribute that he possesses. Bernal's defense is his calling card, and if his bat can catch up to his work behind the plate, a breakout for the young catcher could be nigh.

Ivan Herrera and Willson Contreras will handle the major league catching duties these next 3-4 years. Behind them, St. Louis doesn't have much to worry about, as Leonardo Bernal is on the way. Don't expect him in St. Louis until at least 2026, but keep an eye on this young backstop.

RHP Ian Bedell

Ian Bedell is a member of the vaunted 2020 draft class of the Cardinals which includes Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson, and Tink Hence. Bedell, 24, profiles as a right-handed starting pitcher with a plus changeup and fastball and an average "gyro" slider that he developed last year.

I was able to catch up with Bedell recently and discuss his professional career thus far and his recovery from Tommy John Surgery. He struck out 106 batters in 96 innings last year with a 2.44 ERA. His ascent to the majors should be expedited given his age, experience, and impressive performance next year. Bedell will likely start 2024 at AA Springfield, but a promotion to Memphis by year's end isn't out of the question.

With his new arsenal, boosted confidence, and track record of success in college, Ian Bedell figures to be a key starting pitcher for the Cardinals in 2025 and beyond.

RHP Max Rajcic

Max Rajcic was named the 2023 Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023. He was a late-round draft pick--6th round, 187th overall--in the 2022 draft, so his rise in the minors is a pleasant surprise. Rajcic has a versatile pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball, change-up, and a newly-developed slider. Rajcic was one of the non-roster invitees to Spring Training Camp this offseason. The organization sees value in the 22-year-old pitcher.

Rajcic split 2023 between Low-A Palm Beach and High-A Peoria. He pitched much better in Palm Beach (1.89 ERA, 9.87 K/9), but his 3.08 ERA in Peoria is still strong. Rajcic started 23 games last year, and his presence at big league camp in Spring Training bodes well for his development. Rajcic will be able to learn from veterans like Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and retired players who are at camp.

SS Jonathan Mejia

The St. Louis Cardinals gave shortstop Jonathan Mejia a vote of confidence when they gave him nearly one-third of their international bonus pool money in 2022. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic, and he had a 145 wRC+ in the Dominican Summer League in 2022. Mejia's arm strength profiles him moreso as a third baseman with a 55 ranking out of 80, and his hit tool should carry his offensive game.

Last year, the Cardinals were aggressive with the 18-year-old infielder; they sent him to both the Florida Complex League and Low-A Palm Beach in 2023. Mejia's wRC+ plummeted to just 75 in the Complex League and an abysmal 22 in Low-A, albeit in only 33 late appearances. Mejia's speed is average, and his young age makes him a raw player still. Given time, the young shortstop could pan out to be a strong player. He isn't expected to arrive in the majors until at least 2027, but he is a prospect to keep an eye on.

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