The St. Louis Cardinals continued to bolster their pitching pipeline on the second day of the 2026 MLB Draft, selecting righthanded pitcher Jacob Haley from the University of South Alabama with the 324th overall pick in the 11th round.
At 6-foot-3 and 200-220 pounds, the Huntsville, Alabama, native brings a strong, projectable frame and a promising three-pitch mix that caught the Cardinals’ eye in a draft class heavy on college arms. Haley, who primarily worked out of the bullpen as a junior, posted a 3.07 ERA across nine relief appearances, striking out an impressive 20 batters in just 14.2 innings (12.67 K/9). Opponents hit just .151 against him.
This summer, he looked even sharper in the prestigious Cape Cod League with the Orleans Firebirds, posting a 1.38 ERA in four appearances (including two starts) while showing the kind of strike-throwing ability that fits the Cardinals’ developmental philosophy.
Haley’s fastball sits 94-95 mph and can touch 97, with excellent shape — generating around 18 inches of induced vertical break and solid vertical release extension. That combination gives the pitch good carry and makes it tough to square up.
His breaking ball arsenal stands out for a late-round pick. He features a low-80s curveball with about 10 inches of drop and a mid-80s slider with gyro shape. Both breakers have shown the ability to miss bats, complementing a fastball that plays well up in the zone. Command was a strength this spring, helping him limit hard contact in limited innings.
Injuries have slowed his development — he threw just 27.2 innings across three seasons at South Alabama — but when healthy, the righthander has flashed the stuff to handle a relief role with potential for more. He also contributed as a position player (primarily DH) earlier in his career, batting .190 with power in limited plate appearances, showcasing athleticism.
Haley becomes the latest Jaguar to join the Cardinals organization, following infielder Brendan Donovan (2018, 7th round) — now a key everyday player in St. Louis — and World Series hero David Freese, who played at South Alabama before his MLB career. He was also a teammate of fellow 2026 Cardinals draftee RHP Brian Gorman II (15th round) during the 2025-26 seasons.
Born August 16, 2005, in Huntsville, Haley is the eldest child of Joseph and Monanca Haley. He has two siblings, Kenneth and Addilyn. Prior to college, he starred at Sparkman High School, where he posted a 1.97 career ERA as a pitcher and batted .411 with 11 home runs as a senior. He also played for Vipers Baseball Academy.
The Cardinals have a track record of developing late-round college pitchers into valuable bullpen pieces or even starters. Haley’s combination of size, velocity, and breaking ball potential gives him a chance to follow that path. With his performance in the Cape Cod League this summer, he enters the organization with momentum and could move quickly through the lower levels if he stays healthy and refines his command.
For a club always looking to add depth and upside to the farm system, Jacob Haley represents another intriguing piece in the puzzle. Welcome to the Cardinals, Jacob.
