The Cardinals being in a transition phase has made it even easier to focus on the highlight of the summer. No, that’s not the trade deadline although that arguably might be interesting to watch for obvious reasons.
With the All-Star game headed to Atlanta, the sole focus for this site over the next two and half months comes down to one all important fact. St. Louis ‘won’ the lottery (sorry Seattle) and for the second year in a row has a top 7 selection in the MLB Draft. Why is this upcoming pick even more vital you ask? Due to the existing rules, the Birds on the Bat will not be eligible for a selection in next year’s top 10 even if they finish with one of the worst records overall.
And in a Draft season where it is anyone’s guess, the fifth pick just became the Powerball under the Arch. In case you have forgotten, last year was the perfect situation where a potential superstar landed at the Cards’ doorstep. JJ Wetherholt bypassed Peoria and currently sports an OPS of .910 in Springfield. It isn’t out of the question that he moves up to Memphis at some point and takes his sweet lefty swing into 2026 looking at a role for St. Louis.
While that is the best-case scenario, the truth for the upcoming Draft is simple. Pick any mock site you like and throw a dart. That’s really how it is looking this far out and most likely won’t change much between now and July. Well that seems unlikely, right? There has to be a player or three that will distance themselves from the rest of the pack. In any normal year you might be right, however, welcome to the year of the perfect storm.
Starting at the top, Washington has the first overall pick and well, they are not the easiest team to read. That is especially true when right after the Nationals you have the Angels who already have the fastest to the majors selection written in heavy pencil. Once the top two picks are made, that’s when the real fun begins. Seattle rocketed up to third overall and with it the Mariners possess the largest bonus pool of 2025.
Where the M’s go could change the rest of the Top 10 if as expected a number of under slot deals are made. The current bonus record of 9.25 million signed last year by two players will be the mark everyone is aiming for but one of those teams, Colorado, happens to be the same boat as the Cardinals. While the Rockies continue to tread water, they are also ineligible for a Top-10 selection for 2026 and currently have four victories.
Adding to the intrigue at the top of this Draft will be a familiar last name for fans of the 4th and 5th picks. Jackson Holliday became a bit of a surprise overall first pick by the Orioles in 2022 but quickly put any concerns to bed by laying waste to the minors and proving Baltimore right. His dad of course starred for both the Rockies and Cardinals and now his younger brother Ethan is up next.
Ethan has been talked about in the Top 5 ever since Jackson was chosen and with good reason. The power potential and lefty swing while possibly staying on the dirt has had all eyes on Stillwater Oklahoma thru another cycle. The chances seem slim that another Holliday makes it to St. Louis, but that’s just the beginning of what will be an amazing sprint to July 13th!
