Liam Doyle Emerges as Cardinals No. 2 Prospect for 2024

The St. Louis Cardinals’ prospect rankings always get people talking. This year’s fan voting sparked plenty of agreement, but also some real debate.

The top of the list feels familiar. Still, a handful of deeper names stirred up strong opinions, thanks to their 2025 performances, scouting buzz, and those ever-tempting long-term projections.

After watching farm systems rise and fall for decades, I can see why most of these rankings make sense. But there are a few spots that deserve a closer look, honestly.

Consensus at the Top of the Cardinals Prospect List

When you look at elite talent, fans and evaluators seem to agree. The top two prospects combine performance with being close to MLB—always a recipe for hype.

JJ Wetherholt and Liam Doyle Lead the Way

JJ Wetherholt as the clear No. 1? No shock there. He’s got athleticism, a strong hit tool, and can play all over the field—exactly the kind of player teams love to build around.

Liam Doyle sits right behind him at No. 2. Doyle’s MLB readiness and real upside set him apart, so it’s easy to see why so many expect him to be next up for St. Louis.

The Case for Joshua Báez’s Return to Prominence

The most interesting argument this year might be about Joshua Báez. He dropped off prospect lists after 2023, but leaving him out now would miss the story of his bounce-back.

Improved Plate Discipline and Sustained Power

Báez’s 2025 run in High-A and Double-A looked like real progress. He walked more, struck out less, and kept his power—those are the signs of actual growth, not just a lucky stretch.

Sure, some folks will wonder if he can keep it up. But if you look at the trends, it feels like he’s turning a corner.

Catchers in Focus: Bernal, Crooks, and Rodriguez

The Cardinals’ system has a bunch of interesting catching prospects, each with their own quirks and question marks. Defense, quality of contact, and a few short samples all matter here.

Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks

Leonardo Bernal looks like a steady, above-average defender behind the plate, though his bat might be just okay. His super low BABIP in Double-A makes you wonder about his contact quality.

Jimmy Crooks had a rollercoaster 2025. He put up good numbers in Triple-A and played great defense, but a short MLB stint exposed some swing-and-miss issues—strikeouts jumped against big league arms.

Raniel Rodriguez’s Eye-Opening Numbers

Raniel Rodriguez posted wild numbers in a tiny sample, which definitely caught people’s attention. Still, some scouting reports seem all over the place—maybe hyping up his hit tool a bit too much and not giving his power enough credit.

With young catchers, it’s always a waiting game. You just have to keep things in perspective.

Pitching Prospects: High Ceilings, Lingering Questions

On the pitching side, there’s plenty of upside, but not a lot of certainty. A few arms flashed in 2025, even if the results didn’t always line up with the hype.

Brandon Clarke, Tink Hence, and Quinn Mathews

Brandon Clarke jumps out for his two standout pitches—an elite fastball and a nasty slider. But his command comes and goes, and with a limited mix, it’s tough to say if he’s a starter or a future bullpen weapon.

Tink Hence had a rough year with health issues. He barely pitched in 2025, which stings, because his earlier Double-A work made it look like he was ready for Triple-A.

Quinn Mathews didn’t meet expectations this season. Oddly enough, that might help the team in the long run—slowing his timeline could give him more time to develop and keep him under team control a bit longer.

Final Thoughts and Fan Involvement

The Cardinals’ prospect rankings mix hard numbers with a good dose of subjective scouting. Naturally, you’ll find some inconsistencies in the reports—kind of comes with the territory.

Still, there’s no denying this system has depth and plenty to argue about. Curious where you stand? Cast your vote in the poll and let everyone know how you see these players shaping up for the future of baseball in St. Louis.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Liam Doyle is your #2 prospect