The St. Louis Cardinals continued their emphasis on college bats Saturday night, selecting Texas Tech outfielder/first baseman Caden Ferraro with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Ferraro, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed hitter from Pearland, Texas, was one of the more intriguing offensive profiles available in the middle rounds after a breakout junior season with the Red Raiders. Listed primarily as an outfielder by the Cardinals, the 21-year-old spent much of his time at designated hitter and first base this spring while flashing enough athleticism to handle a corner outfield spot.
Ferraro’s college journey began at Blinn College, where he quickly established himself as one of the top power hitters in junior college baseball. As a freshman in 2024, he helped the Buccaneers capture the NJCAA Division I national championship, batting .384 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs while earning All-Tournament honors at the JUCO World Series. He followed that with another strong campaign in 2025, hitting .369 with another 18 homers and 74 RBIs as Blinn made a second straight World Series appearance.
After transferring to Texas Tech for the 2026 season, Ferraro refined his approach and emerged as one of the most productive hitters in the Big 12. In 52 games, he slashed an impressive .374/.481/.604 with 8 home runs, 19 doubles, 45 RBIs, and 44 runs scored. He walked 39 times against just 36 strikeouts, posting a 16.7% walk rate and 15.5% strikeout rate while compiling a 1.085 OPS that ranked among the best in the conference. His 70 hits included 27 extra-base knocks.
The numbers only tell part of the story. Ferraro became a data darling among scouts thanks to elite Statcast metrics. He consistently produced premium exit velocities (with a 90th-percentile EV around 109-109.5 mph), posted one of the highest in-zone contact rates in Division I baseball (over 90% in some reports), and showed advanced swing decisions with low chase rates. The former Pearland High School product has the rare combination of bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and raw power that translates well to professional pitching.
Scouting Report
Hit: 55 | Power: 50-55 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | FV: 45
Ferraro’s best tool is clearly the bat. He has a clean left-handed swing with excellent bat speed and a natural feel for the barrel. After showing more of a power-over-hit profile at Blinn, he evolved into a more well-rounded hitter at Texas Tech, spraying hard line drives from gap to gap while still generating enough loft and strength for over-the-fence power. Scouts believe the raw power is still there for 20+ home run seasons if he can elevate the ball more consistently in pro ball.
The questions revolve almost entirely around his defensive home. A below-average runner with limited range, Ferraro saw most of his defensive action at first base or as a designated hitter in college, with only sporadic starts in right field. His arm is average and he shows solid hands around the bag, but he projects as a first baseman or left fielder at the professional level. Some evaluators see him as a bat-first corner player who could ultimately settle in as a designated hitter if the defensive tools don’t improve.
Still, the Cardinals have a strong track record of developing hitters with polished approaches, and Ferraro’s advanced plate skills give him a higher floor than many college bats taken in the third round.
With the pick, the Cardinals added another left-handed bat to a system that continues to prioritize offense. Ferraro joins a group of young first-base/corner options that includes prospects like Jack Gurevitch and Josh Kross. At a slot value of approximately $943,600, he represents solid value for a player who was ranked as high as the 60s-70s by some outlets heading into the draft after his torrid spring.
Ferraro is the son of Dana and Andrew Ferraro and has two siblings. He intends to major in Business Management and brings a championship pedigree from his JUCO days. For a Cardinals organization that values hitters who can control the strike zone and make consistent hard contact, this selection checks a lot of boxes.
Expect Ferraro to begin his professional career in the lower minors later this summer once he signs. If the bat continues to play at the next level, he has a chance to climb prospect lists quickly as a polished college hitter with sneaky upside.
The Cardinals will continue filling out their draft class Sunday and Monday. But on Day 1, they made it clear they were hunting hitters — and in Caden Ferraro, they found one of the more productive ones available.
