The St. Louis Cardinals continued to bolster their pitching depth on the final day of the 2026 MLB Draft, selecting right-handed reliever Brian Garmon II out of the University of South Alabama with the 444th overall pick in the 15th round.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Garmon, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, brings a competitive makeup and late-inning experience to an organization always looking for arms that can contribute in relief roles. While late-round selections carry inherent risk, Garmon’s track record of stepping up in high-leverage situations and his physical projection make him an intriguing addition to the Cardinals’ farm system.
Garmon began his collegiate career at Georgia State, where he made steady contributions over two seasons before transferring to South Alabama ahead of the 2025 campaign. In 2026, as a senior for the Jaguars, he appeared in 13 relief outings, posting a 4.09 ERA over 11.0 innings with two saves, eight strikeouts, and just five earned runs allowed.
He showed composure in tight spots. His first save of the season came against Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 24, when he worked 1.1 hitless innings with a pair of strikeouts. The second was even more dramatic: in the rubber match against Georgia Southern on April 12, Garmon tossed 1.2 scoreless frames and struck out the final batter with runners in scoring position to preserve a 13-12 victory.
Prior seasons showed flashes of durability and strike-throwing ability. At Georgia State in 2024, he led the team with 22 appearances (36.1 innings), recording 34 strikeouts. His time at South Alabama in 2025 included seven relief outings. Overall, Garmon has demonstrated the ability to eat innings out of the bullpen and limit damage.
This summer, Garmon pitched for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League, tossing three scoreless innings across three relief appearances with five strikeouts. Notably, he shared the field there with Cardinals sixth-round pick shortstop Owen Henne, adding another early connection to the organization.
At South Alabama, Garmon was teammates with fellow 2026 Cardinals draftee Jacob Haley (11th round), another hard-throwing right-hander out of the Jaguars’ bullpen. The Cardinals’ interest in South Alabama’s relief corps speaks to the program’s development under head coach Mark Calvi.
Garmon profiles as a physical right-handed reliever with the potential to miss bats in shorter stints. College reports and earlier showcase data highlight a fastball that has touched the mid-90s (with reports of velo up to 96 mph in certain outings), complemented by secondary offerings including a curveball and changeup.
His frame (listed at 215 pounds) gives him a sturdy, durable build well-suited for relief work. Scouts like his ability to pitch with runners on base, as evidenced by his clutch saves and low-hit appearances. Command and consistency will be areas of emphasis as he turns pro, but the foundation is there for a potential middle-relief or setup contributor if he refines his arsenal and leverages his strike-throwing pedigree.
Born on Jan. 29, 2004, Garmon is the son of Brian and Lynn Garmon and has an older sister, Caitlin. A West Forsyth High School product, he earned honorable mention All-State honors in Georgia’s largest classification and was regarded as a top pitching prospect in the state during his prep days. He graduated from South Alabama this year and majored in Psychology.
Off the field, Garmon enjoys hunting, snowboarding, and fishing — outdoor pursuits that reflect a competitive, well-rounded personality.
The Cardinals have a strong history of developing late-round arms into big-league contributors. Garmon will look to follow that path, beginning his professional journey in the lower levels of the St. Louis system with an opportunity to prove his value in the bullpen. Welcome to the Cardinals, Brian Garmon II.
