The Cardinals weren’t supposed to be any good this year. Most analysts had them pegged for last place in the NL Central as they leaned into their rebuild.
Turns out nobody gave the players that memo. St. Louis sits at 32-28, good for third in the division and one of the season’s biggest pleasant surprises.
But even with things going better than expected, it’s never too early to think about the future. High school and college seasons are wrapping up, which means we’re getting closer to the 2025 MLB Draft.
The Cardinals landed the No. 13 pick this summer, and there should be plenty of talent available at that spot.
They’ve stuck with college players in recent first rounds – five straight years now, including University of Tennessee pitcher Liam Doyle last year. That trend might continue, as Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has them taking Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick with pick No. 13.
“Helfrick is the best defensive catcher in the 2026 class, and his improved offensive game might be enough for him to come off the board inside the top 10. He posted a .979 OPS with 18 home runs this spring while also raising his walk rate from 13.6 to 19.1 percent. There are a lot of similarities between him and Shea Langeliers at the same point in his development.”
There’s a decent chance Helfrick’s gone before the Cardinals get on the clock. But if he’s still there, this could work out nicely.
He’s rock solid behind the plate, and his offensive game has taken a step forward this season. The Cardinals have always valued catching depth, and adding someone with Helfrick’s defensive skills and improving bat would fit right into thier development philosophy.
