The 2025 MLB season is rapidly approaching, which means all 30 teams have the hope of lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy in October. With that in mind, each team will need to rely on their prospects to solidify their roster. According to MLB.com, the St. Louis Cardinals have three prospects listed in the top 100. However, many more will get the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of the baseball world, starting on Saturday, the 22nd. Here are five prospects I would keep an eye on during Spring Training.
SS JJ Wetherholt
The Cardinals first round (7th overall) pick in the 2024 draft looks to improve his impressive stock within the organization. The 23rd ranked prospect hit for a respectable .331 during his breakout season at West Virginia in 2024. During his time with the single-A affiliate Palm Beach Cardinals, Wetherholt hit .295 with a .805 OPS. The 5-foot-10 middle infielder stays short and compact to the baseball. His lefty stroke is smooth, along with his fluid hip rotation. Look for Wetherholt to be more of a contact hitter, comparable to Tommy Edman. While the 22-year-old is not expected to make an impact with the Cardinals until 2026, look for him to get some meaningful at-bats during Spring Training.
As a fielder, Wetherholt is listed as a shortstop, but can slide to second or third base. This is most likely going to be his home, considering the ascension of superstar Masyn Winn. The speedy shortstop has good glove presence, a quick first step, and an accurate arm. I suspect he will overtake Nolan Gorman’s defensive duties at second base when he is called up.
Overall, many Cardinals fans are stoked about this young man, as they should be. He has all the right qualities and skills to be an incredibly solid ball player. Look for him to be a bright spot within the Cardinals organization for many years to come.
LHP Quinn Mathews
The Stanford product is looking to make the leap into the MLB this year. A 4th round pick in the 2023 draft, Mathews has been nothing but productive. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 190 lbs, the southpaw already has the making of a big league pitcher. He went 8-5 in his 2024 minor league season, with a 2.76 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. Mathews is MLB.com’s 45th ranked prospect for the 2025 season, and for good reason. The lefty features an overhead windup, a four-seamer that averages 93-96 mph, and a very high strikeout rate. Mathews also features a changeup around 80-83 mph, and a slider around 84-87 mph to get extra whiffs against lefty hitters. The MLB’s Pitching Prospect of the Year registered 202 strikeouts in the minor leagues.
Expect to hear this man’s name often during the Cardinals 2025 season, either as a fantastic addition to a weak pitching staff, or a disappointment who was brought up too early. I believe Mathews skill set will translate to the MLB, making him a sleeper candidate for NL Rookie of the Year.
RHP Tink Hence
The Arkansas native might have the highest ceiling of all these prospects, depending on his durability. Hence has struggled to stay healthy during his time with St. Louis. A 6-foot-1 right-hander who features a sizzling 95-97 fastball, as well as two upper-70’s off-speed pitches. His best pitch, without a doubt, is his circle changeup. Comparable to Yankees closer Devin Williams’ “Airbender” changeup, Hence’s pitch had a whopping 73% whiff rate in the minors.
While his arm points to a surefire starter, Hence has yet to crack 100 innings pitched in his career. His ERA sat around 2.70 during the 2024 season, along with a 1.06 WHIP. The 77th ranked prospect will surely open some eyes with a strong spring, and hopefully solidify the Cardinals rotation in the future. If durability becomes an issue, Hence will surely be a bullpen arm, similar to when Jordan Hicks was with St. Louis. Talk about a player with a high ceiling and a low floor.
INF Thomas Saggese
The product of the Jordan Montgomery trade in 2023, Saggese has already made a few starts for the Cardinals in 2024. A 5th round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2020, the middle infielder remains a source of hope for Cardinals fans. During his 49 at-bats in 2024, Saggese hit a disappointing .204 with a .556 OPS. However, Saggese raked a very impressive .391 in the Arizona Fall League, which gives his stock a huge boost. Another guy who doesn’t have a huge power presence at the plate, but can put wood on the ball.
Saggese’s fielding is very similar to Wetherholt, considering he can move around the infield. He made starts at short, third, and second in 2024 for the Cardinals, making one error per position. He has tremendous range, no matter where he plays. A soft glove, quick hands, and strong arm all bolster his defensive prowess. The 22-year-old should be a utility infielder in 2025 to step in for starters on their rest days.
Saggese has done something that the previous three players haven’t: played in a Major League Baseball game. Cardinals fans already have an idea of the player he is, but his recent success in the Arizona Fall League has left fans excited for his 2025 campaign. Look for him to put his rocky 2024 season behind him, and become a very solid role player for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2025.
CF Victor Scott II
The 24-year-old speed demon has already left an impression on Cardinals fans…good and bad. While the 5-foot-11’s speed and defense offer tremendous upside, his bat struggles to hold up its end of the bargain. While posting an impressive .323 BA during his 2023 AA season, those results never translated to the big leagues. Scott ended up swinging .179 for the Redbirds, with a .502 OPS. He ended up being sent back down to AAA after a poor start to his season. It hardly improved, with a .210 average and a .597 OPS. Fortunately for Scott II and the Cardinals, it’s only up from here. Any time he gets on base, he is a threat to steal. In fact, he was able to swipe 5 bags in the MLB before being sent down. Stolen bases is a stat that the Cardinals desperately need to improve upon, considering they only stole 91 bags in 2024 (good enough or should I say bad enough for last in the NL Central). If Scott can plug the hole in his bat, he will be a major issue for opposing teams in 2025.
The former Mountaineer utilizes his speed to showcase his impressive range in center. He will make the spectacular plays look routine, and the impossible plays look superhuman. Look no further than his acrobatic grab at the wall versus the San Diego Padres Jackson Merrill. His quick first-step ability makes him an elite outfielder. He struggled early last season to get a good read off the bat initially, but his speed and agility made it easier to recover. The lefty has a good arm, so he can throw runners out at the plate with ease. If the defensive part of Scott’s game remains consistent, fans will be thrilled.
Victor Scott II infuses energy and excitement within the Cardinals organization. His athleticism and speed are second to none. Fans remain hopeful that he can replicate his 2023 hitting season, when he hit north of .300 for AA Springfield. If he can consistently put the ball in play, he will create havoc on the base path. Optimism that Victor Scott II can provide stability in an outfield full of unknowns for the 2025 season is what Spring Training could possibly answer.
