JUPITER, Fla. — A new baseball season is upon us, which means a new set of prospects rankings by the Post-Dispatch are as well.
Welcome to the 2025 Post-Dispatch Dozen.
The Post-Dispatch’s Dispatch Dozen rankings only includes Cardinals prospects who have yet to debut in the major leagues. That’s why you won’t see right-hander Michael McGreevy or infielder Thomas Saggese here despite their rookie eligibility still being intact for 2025.
Three of the Post-Dispatch’s 2024 Dispatch Dozen members reached the majors with those being center fielder Victor Scott II (No. 1), Saggese (No. 3), and right-hander Gordon Graceffo (No. 6).
Prospects are evaluated using the four P’s of prospects: position, proximity, potential and performance. A player’s proximity to the majors from another or the value of their position are also used as tiebreakers in the rankings.
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Meet this year’s Dispatch Dozen:
Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt sets up his throw on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, during fielding drills at the team’s practice facility in Jupiter, Fla.
1. INF JJ Wetherholt
Last year’s seventh overall pick enters his first full professional season ranked as a top prospect in baseball with one of MiLB’s best hit tools.
Cardinals pitcher Quinn Mathews throws on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, during spring training at the team’s practice facility in Jupiter, Fla.
2. LHP Quinn Mathews
Improved fastball velocity and a swing-and-miss secondary pitch earned Mathews minor league pitcher of the year honors by Baseball America and a rapid ascent to Class AAA.
Cardinals pitcher Tekoah Roby does shoulder stretches on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, before working out at the team’s training facility in Jupiter, Fla.
3. RHP Tekoah Roby
With a fastball that has plus velocity and a high-spin-rate curveball, Roby offers an “electric†arm, but injuries left his past two seasons limited.
Cardinals pitcher Tink Hence throws on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, during spring training at the team’s training facility in Jupiter, Fla.
4. RHP Tink Hence
The reigning Texas League pitcher of the year has above-average command of an impressive arsenal. He’s yet to log more than 100 innings in a season.
Cardinals catcher Jimmy Crooks steps out of the cage during batting practice on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, at the team’s facility in Jupiter, Fla.
5. C Jimmy Crooks
The Cardinals’ top catching prospect successfully slowed opposing run games, produced a .321 batting average and a .908 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) to claim Texas League MVP honors.
Cardinals prospect Yairo Padilla, a 17-year-old shortstop, signs autographs for fans before the Spring Breakout game Friday, March 14, 2025, between Cardinals prospects and Marlins prospects at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.
6. SS Yairo Padilla
During a strong introduction to pro ball, the physically projectable 17-year-old displayed natural movements at a premium position and strong bat-to-ball skills as a switch-hitter.
Cardinals pitcher Cooper Hjerpe throws on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, during spring training at the team’s training facility in Jupiter, Fla.
7. LHP Cooper Hjerpe
Although an elbow injury kept Hjerpe under 60 innings for a second consecutive season, the lefty’s deceptive delivery and deep arsenal continued to baffle hitters.
Cardinals catcher Leonardo Bernal, left, talks with pitcher Roddery Munoz after they practiced together on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, on the second day of spring training at the team’s practice facility in Jupiter, Fla.
8. C Leonardo Bernal
The strong-armed switch-hitting catcher capped a regular-season showing that included a promotion to Class AA by batting .304 in the invite-only Arizona Fall League.
Minor league outfielder Chase Davis stretches during Spring Training Early Program (STEP) camp on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at the Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla.
9. OF Chase Davis
A summer resurgence powered Davis, a former first-round pick, to an .868 OPS in his final 77 games of 2024 and promotion to Class AA.
Minor league pitcher Chen-Wei Lin stretches on the first day of Spring Training Early Program (STEP) camp Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at the Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla.
10. RHP Chen-Wei Lin
The 6-foot-7 righty with a 101 mph fastball and an upper 80s mph change-up sported a 2.79 ERA in 116 frames in his first starting look.
11. C Rainiel Rodriguez
Viewed as a bat-first backstop, the 17-year-old Rodriguez slugged his way through the Dominican Summer League season. A stateside debut could await him in 2025.
12. CF Royelny Strop
The son of a former big league reliever, the 16-year-old left-handed hitter’s plus speed and projectable power headlined the Cardinals international signing class in January.
Honorable mentions
Max Rajcic, Matt Koperniak, Darlin Saladin, Cesar Prieto, Zack Showalter, Travis Honeyman and Nathan Church.
This article is part of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Cardinals season preview section, which will be in print on Sunday, March 23.
