Cardinals Draft Strikeout Ace Liam Doyle Fifth Overall in 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals made a bold move in the 2025 MLB Draft, grabbing Liam Doyle, a lefty ace from the University of Tennessee, with the No. 5 overall pick. Doyle’s one of the most electric arms in this draft class and should bring real firepower to the Cardinals’ rotation.

He’s just 22 and already has a reputation for racking up strikeouts and throwing some nasty pitches. Honestly, it’s rare for the Cardinals to have a top-10 pick—they usually draft way later in the first round.

Let’s talk about why Doyle’s such a compelling get for St. Louis.

Who is Liam Doyle? A Dominant Force in the SEC

Liam Doyle turned heads with a huge junior season at Tennessee, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors. He led all NCAA Division I pitchers in 2025 with a wild 15.5 K/9 strikeout rate and just kept overpowering hitters every time out.

His fastball hits 101 mph, and he pairs it with a vicious split-fingered fastball. Those two pitches alone set him apart from most college arms.

Doyle bounced around a bit before Tennessee, spending time at Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss. But his junior year is where it all came together.

He dropped 20 pounds, got in better shape, and suddenly had more stamina and durability on the mound. The stats back it up: a 10-4 record, 3.20 ERA, and a school-record 164 strikeouts over 95 2/3 innings.

You just don’t see lefties with that kind of resume in the SEC all that often.

A Rare Early Pick for the Cardinals

The Cardinals don’t usually pick this high. In fact, they’ve only landed in the top 10 twice in the last 27 years.

This year, a couple of surprise picks—like high school shortstop Eli Willits and righty Tyler Bremner—let Doyle fall right into their laps at No. 5.

Drafting Doyle checks a big box for St. Louis, who needed a left-handed starter. He’s actually the highest-drafted lefty pitcher by the Cardinals since Donovan Osborne back in 1990.

A Potential Future Ace with Reliever Risk

Doyle’s upside is obvious, but there’s a bit of risk too. Assistant GM Randy Flores admitted that Doyle’s high-octane stuff and workload in college make some folks wonder if he might end up in the bullpen.

Still, the Cardinals sound pretty optimistic about him sticking in the rotation.

Flores even compared Doyle’s intensity and competitiveness to Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright—two absolute legends for St. Louis. It’s a big compliment, and it fits the Cardinals’ tradition of developing great pitchers.

What’s Next for Liam Doyle?

Doyle’s coming in with a lot of hype, a blazing fastball, and a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’ll probably be one of the Cardinals’ top prospects from the jump.

If he stays healthy and keeps developing, they’ll give him every chance to start. But, as always, nothing’s guaranteed in baseball.

Now, as Doyle starts his pro journey, he’s got big expectations to live up to. Cardinals fans are hungry for a playoff run, and they’ll be watching closely as this young lefty climbs the ladder.

Could he be the next great Cardinals ace? Maybe. He’s got the tools, and honestly, it’s going to be fun to find out.

Why Cardinals Fans Should Be Excited

The selection of Liam Doyle looks like a smart move for a franchise that’s built its identity on steady, long-term success.

Here’s why fans might want to feel optimistic:

• High Upside: A left-hander who can touch 101 mph? That’s not something you see every day.
• SEC Proven: He went up against tough competition week after week and still managed to stand out.
• Fiery Competitiveness: He’s got that edge—reminds me a bit of what Carpenter and Wainwright brought to the mound.
• Development Focus: The Cardinals know how to bring pitchers along. Their track record speaks for itself.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cards select Tennessee strikeout machine Liam Doyle at No. 5 overall