St. Louis Cardinals 2019 Midseason Top 50 Prospects

Jhon Torres. Gulf Coast League Tigers West v Gulf Coast League Cardinals. Tigertown. Lakeland, FL. Aug. 27, 2018. Photo credit Tom Hagerty on Flickr (lakelandlocal)

As we’re into August of the 2019 season, the St. Louis Cardinals are in a tight division battle with both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. This season has seen some players struggle, and others strive resulting in some MLB call-ups. The Cardinals have some great talent in their farm system, and quite a few of these players have a great chance to get called up within the next couple of seasons.

We have seen a few Cardinals players graduate so far this season. What has seemed like an eternity with Alex Reyes at #1 in the organization, he has finally left the list and opened up that coveted top spot for a new player. Tyler O’Neill has also fully graduated and has been tearing it up this year with the big club. Tommy Edman has been a solid contributor for the Cardinals batting lead off most of the season. Other notables that have recently graduated are Dakota Hudson, and Daniel Ponce de Leon.

With all that being said lets get down to it. Here is my Midseason Cardinals Top 50 prospects rankings.



Prospects1500 Tiers:

Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact
Tier 5: Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team’s 40-man roster

 

Tier 1:
1.  Nolan Gorman, 3B
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #2
Gorman has been having an outstanding 2019 season. He started the season in A- Peoria slashing .241/.344/.448 with 10 homers and 41 RBI. After moving up to A+ Palm Beach he’s been on a similar pace hitting .254/.289/.426 with 3 homers and 16 RBI. However he’s struck out 117 times across the 2 leagues while only walking 37 times. But from a fantasy baseball standpoint it’s his power we’re looking at and he’s definitely got it. Gorman was selected to the Futures Game in Cleveland where he went 0-1 with a strikeout. While it wasn’t the result anyone would want, it was still a big honor to be selected to such a great prospect event. Although he’s still a couple years away from the MLB, the future is bright with this young slugger.

2. Dylan Carlson, OF
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #11
The way Carlson has been playing this season in AA, has been nothing short of impressive. Slashing .289/.369/.522 with 17 homers and 53 RBI this season is the reason he’s moved up my list. With the way he’s been hitting, while also adding 13 stolen bases, he’s looking like the future mainstay in the St. Louis Cardinals outfield for years to come. Carlson, like Gorman, also got selected to play in the Futures Game in Cleveland. Carlson looked good going 1-2 with an RBI.

 

Tier 2:
3. Andrew Knizner, C
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: MLB St. Louis
Preseason Rank: #5
Knizner made his much anticipated MLB debut earlier this year. As of right now Knizner has 30 AB in the MLB, and has hit 1 home run, 3 RBI, 1 SB, .167/.219/.333.  While the stats haven’t been great in the MLB, the future still looks bright for him. With Yadier Molina nearing a return from injury, it’s looking like Knizner’s days are numbered before he gets shipped back to AAA. He’s been a consistent hitter all through the minors and I don’t believe that will change once he becomes the starting catcher for the Cardinals.

4. Elehuris Montero, 3B
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #4
Montero has spend the majority of the 2019 season in AA. His stats have dropped quite a bit since last season, but the hitting ability is still there and I don’t feel any need to panic just yet. Montero has just 5 home runs, 15 RBI, with a .203/.254/.390 slash line in 126 plate appearances. Still at only 20 years old there’s lots more to come.

5. Ryan Helsley, RHP
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: MLB St. Louis
Preseason Rank: #7
Helsley made his MLB debut earlier in the season against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched in 2.1 innings giving up 1 run, 1 hit, and striking out 4. Not to bad at all. He did give up a 3-run homer to Christian Yelich, but settled down nicely after that. Helsley has now pitched in 12.1 innings in the MLB this year, holding a pretty decent 2.92 ERA, with a 9.5 K/9. Although Helsley is back in AAA now, there’s no doubt that he will be up again at some point this season.

6. Lane Thomas, OF
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: MLB St. Louis
Preseason Rank: #33
The kid is a stud. Thomas has moved between AAA and the MLB a couple times this season, but has been tearing it up both stops. While only having 15 at bats at the major league level, Thomas has hit 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 1 SB, and an astounding .400/.438/.800. While the averages in AAA are a little lower, he’s still been on a roll smacking 10 home runs, 44 RBI, 11 SB at AAA Memphis.

 

Tier 3:
7. Junior Fernandez, RHP
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #29
Fernandez has been one of the best pitchers in the system this season. Pitching in 59.2 innings across 3 leagues, he’s got a 2-1 record with a 1.51 ERA, 10 saves, and a 11.2 K/9. I think it’s only a matter of time until he’s in the St. Louis bullpen. He’s got the stuff to be an elite bullpen arm and be a solid setup/closer for the club. Just got his first call-up to MLB on August 6.

8. Malcom Nunez, 3B
Age: 18
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: #10
Nunez has slowed down a bit this season compared to last. But at only 18 years old there is still lots of room and time to improve. Nunez is one of the top prospects in the organization and rightfully so. The way he dominated the 2018 campaign at just 17-years-old was something special. This season Nunez has just 2 home runs, 14 RBI, 3 SB, and .261/.303/.358 line.

9. Randy Arozarena, OF
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #14
Arozarena is ready for the MLB. That’s all there is to it. He’s been absolutely destroying all aspects of the minor leagues this season across AA and AAA. His combined 9 home runs, 41 RBI, 14 SB, and .353/.438./.556 line say it all. In AAA alone his 6 home runs, 26 RBI, 6 SB, and .376/.446/.579 are phenomenal. The trouble is the Cardinals don’t want to call him up without him getting regular at bats. I’m ready to see what he can bring to the MLB level. He’s close to being there, and will be up this year.

10. Jhon Torres, OF
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: #6
Torres started the season in Rookie ball with Johnson City. While there he hit 4 HR, 11 RBI, .274/.392/.548. This earned him a promotion up to A- Peoria where he’s struggling to hit the ball. With just a .167, and 29 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances will he be able to reverse the slump. I think he will. He is still just 19 and with the type of hitter he has been over 2018, 2019 seasons, there’s no doubt he can get out of this slump.

11. Luken Baker, 1B
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #9
Baker is having a decent 2019 with Palm Beach. While his batting average is only .233, he has hit 6 HR, and 40 RBI with 1 SB. I know the power is there but he has yet to fully explode into what I feel he could be. With Paul Goldschmidt thoroughly entrenched at 1B for the Cardinals, will Baker get his chance in a couple years? Or will the Cardinals transform one of their highly touted 3B prospects (Gorman, Montero, Nunez) into a 1B and push Baker out. Only time will tell, but Baker has the power potential to move himself into a better standing in the system.

12. Edmundo Sosa, SS
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: MLB St. Louis
Preseason Rank: #24
Sosa has been having a excellent year across AAA and the MLB. In AAA he’s been lights out hitting 12 HR, 46 RBI, 2 SB, .275/.318/.449. He has also had 3 plate appearances at the major league level getting one hit. Sosa is a great hitter and just needs to get more at bats at the major league level to show what he can really do. He’s done enough at AAA to get the chance to join the Cardinals but there’s not much room for him at the positions he plays. All in all he’s still got a great bat and could be a regular player in the next year or two.

13. Griffin Roberts, RHP
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #8
Coming into the season Roberts had to serve a 50 game suspension. He was activated from suspension at the end of May, and things haven’t gone so well. Roberts has pitched to the tune of a 1-6 record, 5.57 ERA, 1.594 WHIP, and a abysmal 26 K in 53.1 innings. It seems like the time off while being suspended took Roberts a step or two backwards. Roberts most recent start on August 4th showed some hope. He pitched 6 innings, only giving up 3 hits and striking out 3. Although the strikeouts aren’t there yet, he is more than capable of getting them.

14. Conner Capel, OF
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #20
At only 22-years-old, Capel has been delivering a stellar 2019 across AA and AAA. After having a decent start to 2019 in AA, Capel moved up to AAA and has improved most aspects of his hitting. While he’s only had a small amount of plate appearances (31), he’s hit 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .433/.452/.800. The future is looking bright for this young outfielder if he can keep up the pace.

15. Zack Thompson, LHP
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: NR (2019 1st round draft pick)
Thompson was drafted in the first round, 19th overall in the 2019 MLB draft. This left handed pitcher out of the University of Kentucky has a 4 pitch arsenal consisting of a low to mid 90’s fastball, low 80’s slider, curveball and can mix in the occasional change. The biggest concern pre-draft was the previous injuries he’s had. Thompson missed 2 months in 2016 as a sophomore with an elbow injury but didn’t need surgery. It seems as though now he’s healthy and ready to start his career with the Cardinals. So far this season between Rookie and A+, Thompson has a 4.82 ERA, and a 15.4 K/9.

16. Justin Williams, OF
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #18
Williams started the 2019 season on the IL after he punched a TV and fractured his hand. Once healthy Williams was optioned to AA Springfield. Williams struggled a bit there only hitting 1 HR, 3 RBI, with a .193 BA in 57 AB, but still got moved up to AAA Memphis. I’d have to assume that Williams wasn’t 100% healthy while in Springfield. Once in Memphis he’s greatly improved hitting 2 HR, 5 RBI, and hitting .450 in 20 AB. He’s starting to get back to the great hitter he was with the Rays organization. He’s on a solid pace in AAA and can definitely keep it up.

17. Ramon Urias, 2B
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #16
Urias has moved across 3 levels this season, but has spent the majority of the season in AAA. Urias has the tools to make his way up to the MLB this season, but that much has yet to be seen. In AAA this year he’s hit 3 HR, 29 RBI, 3 SB, .236/.366/.347. Urias does walk quite a bit, but needs to improve his hitting.

18. Adolis Garcia, OF
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #15
Garcia has been having the usual decent season in AAA. He’s hit 23 HR, 74 RBI, 12 SB, .240/.285/.475. The power is there like always, but so is the horrible strikeout to walk ratio. Garcia could make his way back up to the Cardinals lineup one day, but has struggled there when he did get the chance. I feel his struggles in the MLB have moved him behind a few others to get the call to the MLB. He may eventually get another chance to totally redeem himself in the majors, but time is running out. There’s a few other outfield prospects that fully deserve a shot on the Cardinals, and that may push Garcia out.

19. Genesis Cabrera, LHP
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: MLB St. Louis
Preseason Rank: #19
Cabrera made his MLB debut this season, and it didn’t go as planned. He started the season in AAA and wasn’t great before his call up sporting a 6.35 ERA prior to his debut. Cabrera didn’t look good at all for the Cardinals pitching 11.2 innings, 0-2 record, 6.17 ERA, 7 BB, 10 K. The Cardinals called him up too early I think. He wasn’t having the greatest of seasons in Memphis, and then to get thrown into the fire and fail. Has to be major disappointment for the young lefty, but he will have some time to regroup in AAA, and get it all back together before his next chance at MLB action. We will see him again one day in the Cardinals uniform.

20. Leandro Cedeno, 1B
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: #25
Cedeno has had a pretty decent year in Peoria, hitting 5 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB, .251/.300/.376. Although he has been striking out a lot, he’s still got a good bat and decent power. To have a chance to become something in this system, Cedeno will have to work on cutting down his strikeouts. He’s a big kid and the power bat is there, but his size is limiting his mobility in the field which makes it tough to move him around to various positions. All in all I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves up a level soon.

 

Tier 4:
21. Tommy Parsons, RHP
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 3 levels): 11-4, 2.71 ERA, .965 WHIP, 120 K, 19 BB, 132.2 IP

22. Johan Mieses, OF
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 16 HR, 55 RBI, 6 SB, .244/.344/.450

23. Brady Whalen, 1B/3B
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats: 7 HR, 71 RBI, .263/.345/.403

24. Ivan Herrera, C
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #41
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 9 Hr, 44 RBI, 1 SB, .279/.369/.420

25. Yariel Gonzalez, 1B/3B
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #22
2019 Stats (over 3 levels): 12 HR, 61 RBI, 5 SB, .271/.324/.407

26. Johan Oviedo, RHP
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #35
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 10-5, 4.24 ERA, 1.463 WHIP, 132 K, 57 BB, 123.0 IP

27. Lars Nootbaar, OF/1B
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 3 Levels): 7 HR, 37 RBI, 4 SB, .263/.348./.370

28. Max Schrock, 2B
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #13
2019 Stats: 1 HR, 23 RBI, 10 SB, .258/.345/.351

29. Jacob Patterson, LHP
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #26
2019 Stats: 6-5, 6.20 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 1 SV, 56 K, 13 BB, 45.0 IP

30. Julio Rodriguez, C
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseaon Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 7 HR, 33 RBI, .272/.315/.399

31. Nick Dunn, 2B
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #23
2019 Stats: 3 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB, .233/.279/.326

32. Steven Gingery, LHP
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: Rookie GCL Cardinals
Preseason Rank: #28
2019 Stats (just came back from Tommy John): 0-1, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 K, 1 BB, 0.2 IP

33. Trejyn Fletcher, OF
Age: 18
2019 Highest Level: Rookie Johnson City
Preseason Rank: NR (2019 2nd round draft pick)
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 3 HR, 21 RBI, 5 SB, .254/.296/.404

34. Scott Hurst, OF
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #21
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 5 HR, 29 RBI, 2 SB, .214/.294/.312

35. Connor Jones, RHP
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: #34
2019 Stats: 1-1, 4.08 ERA, 1.866 WHIP, 40 K, 30 BB, 39.2 IP

36. Evan Kruczynski, LHP
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #31
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 3-8, 6.40 ERA, 1.714 WHIP, 107 K, 56 BB, 109.2 IP

37. Seth Elledge, RHP
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #36
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 4-4, 3 SV, 4.71 ERA, 1.490 WHIP, 62 K, 24 BB, 49.2 IP

38. Angel Rondon, RHP
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 9-5, 2.80 ERA, 1.170 WHIP, 132 K, 54 BB, 131.2 IP

 

Tier 5:
39. Justin Toerner, OF
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AA Springfield
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 2 levels) 10 HR, 46 RBI, 12 SB, .257/.376/.377

40. Delvin Perez, SS
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: #39
2019 Stats: 0 HR, 27 RBI, 17 SB, .258/.321./296

41. Joerlin De Los Santos, OF
Age: 18
2019 Highest Level: Rookie GCL Cardinals
Preseason Rank: #27
2019 Stats: 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB, .161/.254/.161

42. Jonatan Machado, OF
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: #50
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 1 Hr, 15 RBI, 4 SB, .301/.344/.370

43. Tony Locey, RHP
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: NR (2019 3rd round draft pick)
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 1-1, 4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 26 K, 12 BB, 14.2 IP

44. Jake Woodford, RHP
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #49
2019 Stats: 6-7, 4.20 ERA, 1.361 WHIP, 105 K, 64 BB, 122.0 IP

45. Andre Pallante, RHP
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: Class A Short Season – State College Spikes
Preseason Rank: NR (2019 4th round draft pick)
2019 Stats: 1-0, 1.57 ERA, .957 WHIP, 26 K, 9 BB, 23.0 IP

46. Brendan Donovan, 2B/3B
Age: 22
2019 Highest Level: A- Peoria
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats: 8 HR, 43 RBI, 4 SB, .274/.394/.439

47. Jean Selmo, OF
Age: 19
2019 Highest Level: Rookie GCL Cardinals
Preseason Rank: #32
2019 Stats: 1 HR, 6 RBI, .146/.200/.268

48. Wadye Ynfante, OF/2B
Age: 21
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #40
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 3 HR, 14 RBI, 7 SB, .209/.277/.275

49. Alvaro Seijas, RHP
Age: 20
2019 Highest Level: A+ Palm Beach
Preseason Rank: #48
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 5-6, 3.22 ERA, 1.361 WHIP, 99 K, 41 BB, 111.2 IP

50. Austin Warner, LHP
Age: 25
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: NR
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 5-7, 4.79 ERA, 1.474 WHIP, 116 K, 43 BB, 114.2 IP

Some other notables that are just outside of my Top 50:

Derian Gonzalez, RHP
Age: 24
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis (Currently on minor league 60-day IL)
Preseason Rank: #37
2019 Stats: N/A

Ludwin Jimenez, RHP
Age: 17
2019 Highest Level: Rookie GCL Cardinals
Preseason Rank: #43
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 4-4, 4.03 ERA, 1.345 WHIP, 47 K, 20 BB, 58.0 IP

Evan Mendoza, 3B
Age: 23
2019 Highest Level: AAA Memphis
Preseason Rank: #44
2019 Stats (over 2 levels): 1 Hr, 21 RBI, 5 SB, .252/.303/.315

As always thanks for checking out my Cardinals Top 50 and all of the other Prospects1500 content. We really appreciate all the followers and fans that read all of our articles.

I am the St. Louis Cardinals correspondent for Prospects1500. Live in Manitoba, Canada. Big sports fan for all sports. Love my Philadelphia Eagles, San Jose Sharks and the Boston Red Sox. Part of Diamond Duos V deep dynasty league. Always free to answer questions, or just chat fantasy sports. Thanks!! Follow me on Twitter at @ChrisEros




51 Comments

    • Hey thanks for the feedback. Rondon has been excellent this season. He wasn’t as solid in his move up to AA. But he’s still been good. Hoping he can continue to be a great pitcher and no doubt he’s moving up the next list. Thanks for reading

  1. De Los Santos is very young. Didn’t have a very great year but lots of time to turn it around. Nolan Gorman is my #1 on this list. Great power. Sosa is also solid. Had some time in the majors this year.

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