The St. Louis Cardinals continued building outfield depth and adding college polish to their farm system Saturday night, selecting University of Central Florida outfielder Andrew Williamson with the 68th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
The selection came in Competitive Balance Round B, one of two such picks the Cardinals acquired earlier this year in the three-team Brendan Donovan trade that also netted them the 72nd overall selection. Williamson, a 6-foot, 195-pound left-handed hitter and thrower from St. Petersburg, Florida, becomes the latest addition to a Cardinals draft class already featuring high school outfielder Trevor Condon at No. 13.
Williamson, who turns 21 later this month, arrives as a well-rounded, production-driven college bat who has steadily climbed draft boards over the past two seasons. Ranked as high as No. 43 by some evaluators (Kiley McDaniel) and generally in the 45-60 range (Baseball America No. 47, MLB Pipeline No. 52 entering the draft), he profiles as a potential everyday corner outfielder with enough athleticism to see time in center early in his career.
After going undrafted out of Northside Christian High School in 2023, Williamson arrived at UCF with limited fanfare. He started immediately and never looked back.
As a sophomore in 2025, he exploded for a .352/.448/.662 slash line with 13 home runs, 19 doubles, 53 RBIs and 13 stolen bases across 55 games, posting a 1.110 OPS while leading the Knights in several offensive categories. He followed it up with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League.
This past spring as a junior, Williamson again started all 55 games (mostly in right field) and hit .322/.442/.645 with 16 home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 48 RBIs, 58 runs and a team-high 41 walks against 47 strikeouts. He led UCF in runs, homers, walks, OBP, slugging and OPS (1.087). The production came against Big 12 pitching, giving scouts a reliable look at how his left-handed swing holds up against better competition.
He also earned MVP honors in the wood-bat Cal Ripken League after his freshman year, posting absurd numbers (.462/.546/.906 with nine homers in 29 games), further proving his ability to drive the ball with quality lumber.
MLB Pipeline grades Williamson as a 50 overall prospect with a balanced tool set: Hit 50, Power 50, Run 55, Arm 55, Field 50. There is no plus carrying tool that screams “star,” but there also is no glaring hole — a profile Cardinals scouting directors have historically valued in the second- and third-round range.
At the plate: Williamson generates impressive bat speed and whip through the zone despite some unorthodox pre-pitch movement. He uses a noticeable barrel hitch and big bat tilt (the barrel often points toward the third-base dugout during his load), which creates a whippy, athletic path. The swing produces solid pull-side power and the ability to drive the ball in the air, as evidenced by his 29 home runs over the last two college seasons. He shows good bat-to-ball skills inside the zone and has improved loft. The concerns center on timing consistency against premium velocity and pitch recognition — areas that could be cleaned up with professional instruction but also present some risk. When everything syncs, the left-handed stroke has real impact potential.
On the bases and in the field: Williamson is a solid-average to above-average runner who has stolen 21 bases the last two seasons. He played center field as a freshman before settling primarily into right field the past two years. His arm grades as above-average and is accurate enough for right field long-term. Evaluators believe he has the athleticism and route-running ability to get looks in center as a pro before potentially settling into a corner. Defensively he has been reliable at UCF, with a near-perfect fielding percentage over his career.
Physical profile and makeup: Thickly built with strength throughout his frame and noticeable twitch, Williamson is listed at 6-foot, 195 pounds. He is the nephew of former big-league utilityman Sean Rodriguez (who played 13 seasons, including productive stretches with the Rays and Pirates). That bloodline and big-league exposure are noted positively by scouts.
At 68th overall — a slot valued at roughly $1.285 million this year — Williamson represents a solid, low-risk addition who could move quickly if the swing and approach continue to refine. He is the type of player who can debut in High-A or even Double-A by the end of 2027 if he signs and performs.
Williamson’s selection continues a busy Day 1 for the Cardinals, who entered the draft with one of the larger bonus pools and multiple early picks thanks to recent trades. More selections are still to come Sunday and beyond, but the addition of a productive, athletic lefty bat from a Power conference program is a classic Cardinals draft move — patient, performance-based, and focused on sustainable upside.
Welcome to the organization, Andrew. The Cardinals have themselves a solid piece of outfield depth.
