2026 St. Louis Cardinals Full Mock Draft

MLB mock drafts are often an exercise in futility. Teams curate their selections based on how they can fit each player’s projected signing bonus into their preordained bonus pool. Thus it is nearly impossible to project the exact order players will go off the board. Tools such as the Over-Slot mock draft simulator made it possible to estimate the range that these players will come off the board, as well as providing a starting point for what they could demand as a signing bonus.

I’ll preface the rest of this pithy intro by mentioning that I don’t have a ton of experience in this space. In previous draft cycles I’d paid attention not only to who the Cardinals were drafting, but what archetypes they coveted. Rarely however, had I done much pre-draft research into who these players might be prior to their entry into professional baseball. My first foray into the area resulted in predicting the Jack Gurevitch pick:

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Before also hitting on the selections of Ryan Weingartner and Cade Crossland:

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It’s more than possible (maybe even likely) that this was just dumb luck, and the next several minutes of your time will be spent reading about guys who will never don a Cardinal uniform.

But maybe I’m right, and that would be fun, so stick around if you’re so inclined.

Only one more disclaimer before jumping in. All of the information mentioned in the article was aggregated from various draft sites. The opinions are my own, however I don’t have access to Trackman or Hawkeye data unless it was published elsewhere. The guys over at Cardinalsprospects.com do a great job breaking down that domain, and are a great resource for all things Cardinals draft and prospects. Check them out!

Apropos, please reference and interact with the various sources where cited/linked data originates from. All websites will also be linked at the bottom.

Without further ado!

Total Draft Pool: $16.6 million

Signing bonus estimates included after each selection’s school.

Scouting Hitter Objectives: Projectable, athletic, and a plus plate approach with a knack for air pull.

Scouting Pitcher Objectives: A substantial K/BB ratio, while showing unique fastball characteristics and feel for an eventual plus changeup.

*Exact big board rankings may vary as sites go through their final updates.

Round 1 Pick 13: Cameron Flukey RHP, Coastal Carolina- $4.7 million est. signing bonus

Candidly, when I started writing this piece around a month ago I decided to start from the bottom of the draft and work my way up. Why? Who knows? Since I’ve started writing with Cameron Flukey as the pick at 13, nearly every report and mock draft has come out and stated the Cardinals will be bat heavy at 13 and in the early rounds. The rest of this mock draft reflects those sentiments, but I’ve decided to stick to my priors with Flukey here. The MLB Draft will do its thing, and I refuse to rule any scenario out.

Coming into the 2026 college season, the 6'6" righty had the potential to be the first pitcher off the board according to multiple outlets. However, Flukey was unable to duplicate the successes of his sophomore season due to a stress reaction in his rib cage. Thus his numbers (4.12 ERA in 24 IP with a 31/9 K:BB ratio), don’t look the part of a first rounder. A piece of the strategy in selecting the Coastal Carolina right hander here is getting him to take a decent haircut. The slot value for the 13th pick is $5.6 million, but Flukey has been sliding down big boards and mock drafts alike over the last several weeks.

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Are the Cardinals catching a falling knife? Possibly, but spreading out the bonus pool even further could work in their favor even if Flukey doesn’t pan out as expected. The “Over-Slot Mock Draft Simulator” estimates that Flukey would command $4.5 million at #13, so we’ll go with the $4.7 figure listed above that would pay him out about pick #17’s slot value.

I promise this is the longest intro before a scouting report, but it felt necessary to explain the outset approach that will set up the rest of the draft.

As for the player himself, his profile is highlighted by a big time fastball that sits in the mid 90s and has touched 99 with great ride. He commands it well, and will continue to see it play up as he gains strength. The curveball is a huge downer that generates a ton of depth, although he doesn’t spin it or his gyro slider particularly well. Both breakers were effective in college and could be real weapons that play off what eventually should be a plus fastball. The Cardinals development squad will want to work on a changeup with the big righty. It’s a pitch that has some promise but hasn’t seen much use.

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Overall, the fastball has fantastic peripherals that a pro organization should be able to get more out of, while the curveball and slider have a lot of potential as well. There’s still a good chunk of projection left for Flukey. Further strength gains could lead to even more velocity and push him into a different stratosphere of prospect. Yet keeping him healthy will be a key, as Flukey hasn’t been able to consistently stay on the bump during his college career.

There’s more inherent risk with this profile than your average top half of the first round pitcher. In assessing such risk, it’s important to remember the old nihilistic adage coined by “Baseball Prospectus” founder Gary Huckabay: “There’s No Such Thing As A Pitching Prospect”.

Flukey is ranked 17th by Over-Slot, 15th by Pipeline, 19th by Just Baseball, and 13th by Baseball America.

Comp A Pick 32: Ty Head OF, North Carolina State- $2.7 million est. signing bonus

Ty Head has one of the best combinations of contact and plate approach in the draft class. However the defense may be his best trait as it currently stands. Offensively, Head ran a 95th percentile 12.5% whiff rate, with 90+ percentile IZ and OZ whiff rates to boot. The redshirt sophomore is nearly impossible to strike out, punching out in only 8% of his at bats in 2026. He also walked at a 23% clip — easily one of the best in the country — while generating well above average air pull rates, per Over-Slot.

Adding in great speed and instincts in center, it’d be fair to question why Head isn’t a consensus first rounder. The holes reveal themselves in his exit velocities, which are firmly average to a tick below. The lefty showed improved raw power numbers (14 home runs in ’26 vs. 4 in ‘25), but his top end EVs need improvement if Head is to round out his profile. His 6’3" frame could still have some extra muscle added to it, giving bullish evaluators something to dream on.

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Teams could look to tone down Head’s big leg kick to help him find the barrel more frequently and supplement the untapped power some believe is still in there. As it stands, there are a lot of elements to like with Head’s game — and there are reasons to believe much more is still in the tank.

Ty Head is ranked 49th by Over-Slot, 52nd by Baseball America, 60th by Pipeline, and 59th by Just Baseball.

Round 2 Pick 50: Connor Comeau 3B, High School (Texas)- $2.5 million est. signing bonus

The first high schooler in this mock draft is a 17 year old Texas prepster who boasts one of the more impressive hit/power tools in the draft class. It’s a 6'4" 180lb frame that still has plenty of room for added muscle. The hit tool is currently Comeau’s carrying card, but scouts believe the power will continue to augment as he matures. The left handed swing is simple and compact, which hasn’t led to an abundance of loud contact yet, but the power flashes have excited evaluators.

Comeau had encouraging showings on the circuit, displaying the gap to gap approach that has served him well to this point. He’s not going to wow you with athleticism or elite run times, likely settling in at the hot corner when he joins the professional ranks. The arm should be more than sufficient to get the job done at third, as Comeau has been up to 94 on the mound.

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Comeau is one of the youngest players in the class, leaving so much room for growth and development. Yet right now the sweet left handed swing, contact, and plate discipline provide a reasonable floor. More than likely however, those tools will become the base for an explosive, well rounded profile down the road.

The Texas A&M commit is ranked 53rd by Just Baseball, 55th by Pipeline, 60th by Over-Slot, and 54th by Baseball America.

Comp B Pick 68: Kevin Roberts Jr. OF, High School (Mississippi)- $2 million est. signing bonus

The term “toolshed” gets thrown around liberally in scouting reports, often erroneously. Yet that adjective fits Kevin Roberts Jr., quite aptly. Roberts Jr. is an imposing figure, standing at a wiry 6'6" in the right handed batters box with plenty more room to fill out. The athletic traits stand out in a big way, but there’s also 70 grade raw power to go along with a projected plus run tool and arm. He’s been up to 96 on the mound, but his future is either in center or right.

Despite his size and ability to impact the ball, Roberts Jr. doesn’t run abnormally high whiff rates. Scouts are worried that the quality of contact won’t allow the Mississippi high schooler to reach his massive ceiling, however at only 17 years, he has plenty of runway to make adjustments in pro ball. The biggest concerns seem to be the lack of production on the 2025 summer circuit, yet Roberts Jr. was facing kids 1–2 years his senior.

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All told, the 17 year old has a ton of projection remaining. There is obvious raw power, but he was unable to show it off against the best high schoolers in the nation. A lot has to go right for this profile to take off, but the potential upside is Jordan Walkeresque. A young for the class, high end athlete, Roberts Jr. would be an electrifying watch as he progresses through the Cardinals’ system.

He is ranked right around 100 by several publications, including Baseball America, Just Baseball, and Over-Slot. MLB Pipeline ranked Roberts Jr. as the **136th** prospect in the class.

Comp B Pick 72: Evan Dempsey RHP, Florida Gulf Coast- $915k est. signing bonus

Evan Dempsey won the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award in both 2025 and 2026, crowning him as the most prolific two-way player in all of college baseball. Most scouts believe Dempsey’s future is brightest on the mound, where the fastball velocity won’t wow, but the metrics and ability to spin the ball show a potential bright future.

The 21 year old has routinely posted 3000 rpm on his sweeper, while also showcasing a big curveball that has similar potential and spin rates. Both breakers have the potential to develop into plus pitches. The fastball averages 92 but has been up to 95. However, the pitch is very effective at the top of the zone from the flat VAA he gets on it. The heater ran a 36% whiff rate in the top of the zone, according to Just Baseball.

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On top of the swing and miss stuff, Dempsey fills up the zone, posting a 7% walk rate in 2026. The 34% K rate also stood out alongside a 3.15 ERA and 2.01 SIERA. The 27.1 K-BB% ranked 12th in the country this year, per D1Baseball.

Taking into account that teams would be drafting the Florida native as a pitcher only and that he’s young for the class, the appeal of the profile becomes evident: two high spin, two-plane breaking balls and a metrically appealing fastball that has a chance to add velocity. That’s enough to get drafted high as is, but Dempsey pairs that with seemingly above average control that ties all aspects of the potential top 100 selection together.

Dempsey ranks as the 102nd prospect on Over-Slot, 80th on Baseball America, 73rd on Just Baseball, and 101st on MLB Pipeline.

Round 3 Pick 86: Jace Mataczynski SS, High School (Wisconsin) - $1.9 million est. signing bonus

The last high school prospect in this mock draft is a young, tooled-up, cold weather prospect, who may need a swing overhaul. Mataczynski is an Auburn commit who burst onto the prospect scene during the 2025 showcase circuit, displaying a projectable frame (6'3" 190), with lots of room for added power. The state of Wisconsin product has been shooting up draft boards due to his plus bat speed, wiry build, and standout athletic traits from the right side. Most scouting services have around 60 grade speed marks, and believe in his long term outlook at shortstop.

The baseline athleticism and hitterish tendencies are evident now, with pro scouts hoping added strength will allow the power to shine through eventually. The only real hurdle for Mataczynski will be getting into a workable plate operation that allows him to capitalize on all of the raw talent he exudes. I have confidence the Cardinals player development team will give him as good a shot as any to maximize that talent.

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Pipeline ranks Jace as the 131st prospect in the draft. Over-Slot parked him at number 77 on their list, while Baseball America has him at 99.

Over-Slot scouting report

Just Baseball scouting report

Round 4 Pick 114: Daniel Cuvet 3B, Miami (FL)- $684k est. signing bonus

Cuvet represents a true swing at power upside for a Cardinals’ system that has lacked output in that department in recent years, despite an uptick in 2026. Cuvet significantly cut down his chase, while elevating his walk rate during the ’26 campaign. That all came while posting above 90th percentile EVs and barrel rates, per Over-Slot. It’s at least 60 grade power that has popped a 115 EV and often reaches 110 mph off the bat. The Miami product walked more than he struck out for the first time during his junior year.

He was forced to miss the back half of the season with a stress fracture in his back, limiting him to 41 games and missing out on the stretch run through the playoffs. Despite this, Cuvet still posted a .305/.437/.649 slash line with 12 home runs and a .344 ISO. That line is actually down from his career numbers in Coral Gables, where he produced a .347/.439/.704 slash line with 54 home runs and .357 ISO.

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There is some stiffness reminiscent of Nolan Gorman in the box, and the fear would be that Cuvet sacrifices the prodigious power for less whiff as he faces tougher professional pitching. Even if the 90th percentile outcome for the big righty is Nolan Gorman, you take that 10 out of 10 times from your 4th round pick.

Scouts are worried about his ability to stick at the hot corner due to his frame, but he certainly has the arm for the position. First base isn’t out of the question either if his range fails to evolve. It’s a power over hit profile with favorable swing decisions beginning to blossom, offering an intriguing upside selection in the 4th round.

He’s ranked 145th on Over-Slot’s board and 120th on Pipeline’s.

Round 5 Pick 146: Eric Segura RHP, Oregon State- $501K est. signing bonus

Segura features my favorite secondaries of the pitchers in this mock draft, with a disgusting slider/changeup combination that will play up as he climbs the professional ranks. The fastball is average to below average in terms of shape, sitting in the low to mid 90s with natural sink. The pitch can become a bit flat, yet Segura still managed to get hitters to chase 28% of the time and whiff 32% of the time in 2025, per Just Baseball.

The changeup could develop into a true weapon under the right tutelage. Right now it sits with only a 6 mph difference from the fastball, but he kills spin tremendously and only generates 2.2 IVB on it, per Over-Slot. The specs are crazy, and he generated a 46% whiff rate on the pitch even though he doesn’t throw it for strikes consistently yet. The pitch tunnels well off of his fastball, giving pro development groups a tantalizing ball of clay to mold.

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The sweeper may be even better, getting -5 IVB and around 15 inches of movement paired with plus spin. It’s an arsenal headliner that gives him another putaway option. He’ll also throw a workable curveball.

All in all, Segura achieved superb results (2.22 ERA, 2.97 SIERA, 27% K rate, and 9% BB rate over 73 innings, per D1Baseball), while showcasing the potential for 2 plus pitches and a fastball that generates weak contact. I’d love to see what the Cardinals development group could do with this profile.

Segura is ranked 175 at Over-Slot, 197 on MLB Pipeline, 168 on Just Baseball, and 163 at Baseball America.

Round 6 Pick 176: Kam Durnin SS, Missouri- $383k est. signing bonus

Durnin is a name that has seen significant helium attached to his draft status recently. The Linn Creek, Missouri native has always played an above average shortstop, whether it was during his first two years at Wichita State, or this past year in Columbia with the Tigers. The bat is what is starting to create some noise however.

Durnin went to the Appalachian Summer League after the 2025 college season that saw him slash an unremarkable .251/.352/.372. He broke out in a big way during the summer though, hitting .407/.519/.662 with 6 home runs across 40 games, en route to being named the player of the year in the league.

The junior parlayed that success into a .329/.438/.570 line with 9 bombs for Missouri in 2026. The newfound offensive outburst has coincided with a sterling 93rd percentile chase rate, 86th percentile average EV/77th percentile 90 EV, and 78th percentile Air pull, per Over-Slot. Needless to say, it’s all coming together at the right time for Kam Durnin.

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Every scouting report mentions that he’s likely to stick up the middle on the dirt, and is one of the few shortstops in the class who is already nearly a plus defender there. This is an athletic, premium position defender, who is seeing the bat flourish as he matures. There’s seemingly a firm up arrow industry wide.

Over-Slot has Durnin as the 74th player in the 2026 class, while Just Baseball slotted him in at 136. Perfect Game notched him in at 186. Baseball America was by far the lowest on him of this group, ranking him as the 320th player in the class.

Round 7 Pick 204: Ryan Piech RHP, Xavier- $302k est. signing bonus

Ryan Piech is a right hander with tremendous fastball metrics that will present astute organizations with a fascinating starting point in his development. Piech doesn’t overwhelm hitters with velocity, primarily sitting in the low to mid 90s with the heater. However, the riding life and high arm slot aid the Xavier pitcher in getting quality results with the pitch, particularly in the upper third of the strike zone.

The right hander also mixes in an effective curveball that tunnels well off of his fastball, giving him two “out” pitches to lean on. Outside of that, Piech toyed with a slider that looked average. He probably still needs to add a changeup once he reaches the professional ranks if he wants to reach his ceiling of a backend starter/bulk reliever. With the Cardinals recent history of developing changeups, taking arms that have seen success with other pitch types could lead to better results in rounding out the rest of a pitcher’s arsenal.

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In terms of statistics, Piech worked his way to a 3.18 ERA and a 2.74 SIERA, per D1baseball. Over his 76 innings of work, the 20 year old punched 98 tickets, good for just over a 30% K percentage. If he can continue to keep the walks trending down, Piech may just be scratching the surface of what he can become on the bump. There is a chance the velocity continues to pick up as he distances himself from the Tommy John surgery that kept him out for his entire freshman year.

Baseball America ranked Piech as the **205th prospect in their top 500, Over-Slot has him in the 247 slot, while Just Baseball had him ranked at [209](https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-draft/2026-mlb-draft-top-250-prospects/#entry-233034). Perfect Game was the highest of the outlets, ranking Piech as the 184th** prospect in the class.

Over-Slot profile linked here.

Round 8 Pick 234: Ethan McElvain LHP, Arkansas- $241k est. signing bonus

If the Cardinals continue drawing on the well of the reliever to starter track, Ethan McElvain will likely suit their fancy. McElvain transferred to Arkansas from Vanderbilt, where he was a highly touted high school prospect. The Razorbacks turned the big lefty into a middle reliever, where he shined. McElvain pitched to the tune of a 1.88 ERA across 38 1/3 innings and 55 strikeouts to boot. He walked only 13 batters in his 20 appearances.

The profile centers around a mid 90s fastball that’s tickled 98 on the gun. Combined with significant carry and a solid movement profile, it’s at its best when McElvain commands it in the top of the zone. He also weaponizes a low 90s cutter that generates considerable whiffs.

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The starter’s arsenal is rounded out with a changeup and big “Uncle Charlie”. McElvain struggled mightily with control during his sophomore campaign, and that would likely be what pushes him off a starting role as he makes his way through the pro ranks. However, lefties showing this level of arm talent don’t often make it this far down the draft board.

Over-Slot ranked him as the 210th player in the class, while Baseball America slotted him at 267, and Just Baseball spotted him at 228. Perfect Game ranked him as the 226th prospect in the class

Over-Slot info on Ethan McElvain:

Round 9 Pick 264: Declan Dahl RHP, Louisiana Tech- $215k est. signing bonus

Dahl is another unique arm that throws from a low three quarters slot on the right side. The former JUCO right hander generates a very flat approach angle on his fastball with moderate low 90s velocity, that could eventually profile as a plus offering. He’s also shown the ability to land it for strikes consistently.

His best pitch is probably a high fade changeup that racks up a ton of whiffs. The Cardinals have been seeking out formidable changeups with their recent pitcher selections (Cade Crossland, Braden Davis, and Brian Holliday), and Dahl having two potential average to above average offerings is a great profile to build a foundation with.

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The Seminole State transfer sported an impressive 22.4% K-BB ratio — one of the top overall rates in the nation per D1 Baseball. The right hander managed to strike out 101 batters over his 81 1/3 innings of work. Dahl’s relatively high floor could see him drafted even earlier than this. He is ranked as the 249th prospect at Over-Slot, 332nd at Baseball America, 199th by Just Baseball, and 462nd by Perfect Game.

Round 10 Pick 294: Caden Dulin SS, Pittsburgh (Senior)- $150k est. signing bonus

Caden Dulin transferred to Pittsburgh in 2025 after putting up video game numbers for division 3 Rowan College in 2024. Hitting .496 at any level is astounding, which is exactly what Dulin did for the Roadrunners before he made his way to PA. The 23 year old is going to be old for the class, but his bat to ball skills and defensive prowess make him an intriguing underslot option in this range of the draft.

It’s hard to strike the New Jersey native out, as his 10.3% whiff percentage ranked in the 98th percentile amongst collegiate hitters per Over-slot. The plate discipline carries over into above average walk and K numbers — plus an occasional longball. Dulin managed to smash 12 home runs for the Panthers in 2026, clearing his previous division 1 high threefold. The EVs aren’t going to blow you away, but if they did Dulin wouldn’t make it to this pick. The average EVs are actually a tick above the midline, despite the top end 90th numbers being below that.

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The Panther standout has a good chance to stick at the 6 and provide solid organizational depth for a long time. There’s a lot of Jon Jon Gazdar in Dulin’s profile, and a 90th percentile outcome probably lands him a backup middle infield role in the majors.

He’s ranked as the 443rd player on Over-slot’s board.

Important Note: After the 10th round, signing bonuses only count against the draft pool to the extent they exceed $150,000. Thus unless otherwise notated, the estimated signing bonus in rounds 11–20 is $150k or below.

Round 11 Pick 324: Carlos Martinez RHP, Hofstra (Senior)

Martinez is a young senior, whose 21 years of age puts him in line with the juniors of this class. He missed 2025 due to Tommy John, but burst back onto the Northeastern collegiate scene in a big way in 2026. The 6'2" senior hurled 76 1/3 innings across 13 starts for the Hofstra Pride. His pristine 3.30 ERA was coupled with 96 strikeouts and only 27 walks.

According to Over-Slot, the right hander has an average fastball that could potentially climb in velocity as he puts the 2025 injury further in the rearview mirror. Martinez also features a curveball, sinker, changeup, and fabulous sweeper that buoys the starter profile. The sweeper generated a 50% whiff rate in 2026 per Baseball America, who rated Martinez as the 13th best senior in the draft class.

This kid is only scratching the surface of what he could become. The sweeper is currently the carrying tool, but if the fastball continues to trend upwards, teams will be kicking themselves for not drafting him earlier.

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Martinez is ranked 335th on Baseball America’s Top 500, 306th on Over-Slot’s Top 600, and is unranked on Perfect Game’s Top 500 list.

Round 12 Pick 354: Cody Brasch RHP, Louisiana

Brasch posted magnificent numbers for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, pitching as an opener, closer, and occasional starter. The Tyler Junior College transfer was featured in an Over-slot article, detailing the finer parts of his arsenal. The fastball sits in the mid to upper 90s and is delivered from a unique arm angle that gives the pitch a higher than expected 18–19 inches of IVB.

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The slider looks to be Brasch’s putaway pitch, as he generated a 40% whiff rate on it according to the article linked above. The release height makes it appear like a hammer to hitters, who struggled to the tune of a .197 batting average against the junior in 2026. His 7% walk rate and 20.5% K-BB ratio reveal a pitcher who is capable of landing his best stuff for consistent strikes.

If the Cardinals can assist Brasch in rounding out his arsenal with some type of changeup, something they’ve specialized in recent years, there could be enough in the profile to make him a starter.

The Cardinals haven’t had many pitchers in the system recently that have this extreme of a vertical arsenal. With the addition of Cameron Flukey and Brasch in this scenario, the Cardinals development team would have a few novel profiles to attempt to maximize.

Over-Slot ranked him as the **325th **prospect in the class.

Round 13 Pick 384: Tryston McCladdie OF, Clemson- $175k est. signing bonus

McCladdie is another young-for-the-class, athletic up-the-middle defender who is beginning to grow into some power. The Clemson product saw a jump in his offensive power production in 2026, slashing .281/.386/.458 with 8 home runs in 243 plate appearances. He primarily played center field in 2026, but has also seen time at second and third base per Baseball America.

The contact and plate discipline took steps forward in 2026, as McCladdie improved on both his chase and whiff percentages from 2025. As a result, the Georgia native struck out only 16% of the time, good for the 67th percentile in college baseball.

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Impressively, McCladdie made those improvements while holding his 87th percentile average exit velocity numbers steady from 2025. If a professional development group can tap into a bit more air pull, then the nascent power McCladdie showcased in 2026 could blossom into an up-the-middle profile with 50–55 grade power. Even if those odds are slim, these are the profiles smart teams target up and down the board.

Baseball America has Tryston McCladdie ranked 242nd, Over-Slot ranks him at 489, while Perfect Game currently has him at 422. I could see him going in the top 10 rounds, but if he slips down the board, the Cardinals would likely have to give him a bit more than the standard $150k to ensure he signs.

Round 14 Pick 414: Brayden Bakes OF, Illinois State- $175k est. signing bonus

Bakes put together one of the most impressive offensive statistical outputs of anyone in division one college baseball. The former Illinois prepster slashed an outlandish .389/.478/.705 for Illinois State in his redshirt sophomore season. Bakes pairs impressive power with elite surface level swing decision numbers, mashing 16 home runs while only being rung up in 13.4% of his plate appearances. Baseball America’s 446th ranked prospect managed to walk more than he struck out while being one of only 6 college hitters to reach the 15 home run and 20 double landmarks.

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He profiles best in one of the outfield corners defensively, and teams will have to feel comfortable with his medicals after he sat out 2024 due to an injury. However, Bakes proved to be one of the best performers in college baseball in 2026, and that alongside the eye popping EV metrics and elite barrel feel should get him drafted in this range.

Over-Slot ranked Bakes as the 571st best prospect in their Top 600.

Round 15 Pick 444: Korey Alston RHP, Odessa JC- $300k est. signing bonus

Alston would be a fun project for the new pitching development group if the Cardinals offer enough to lure him away from his recent West Virginia commitment. According to Over-Slot, Alston came straight out of high school to the junior college ranks, where he pitched to a 4.17 ERA across 41 innings while striking out 67.

The classic projectable right hander, Alston stands at 6'4" 185 lbs and boasts a fastball that sits in the low 90s, as well as a slider, curveball, and burgeoning changeup. The San Antonio product only walked 12 batters across his 41 innings of work, showing a solid foundation of stuff and control for the development team to work with.

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There isn’t a ton to go on here outside of a young, projectable right hander with continuously increasing stuff and seemingly above average control. In many instances those attributes will be attached verbatim to a high school kid commanding a million or more to be signed away from a college commitment. In this case the Cardinals go above slot in the 15th round for a similar profile, without having to spend an inordinate amount of their bonus pool.

Round 16 Pick 474: Jackson Mitchell RHP, Binghamton- $175k est. signing bonus

Mitchell proved to be a rock for Binghamton’s bullpen across his three years at the school. The Bearcats called upon him to toss 49 innings across 16 appearances, including 6 starts in 2026. Mitchell struck out 51 while only walking 15 during his outings, allowing opponents to hit a measly .206 during the campaign. The 7.6% walk percentage is impressive considering the level of stuff the junior showcased this year

Both Baseball America and bupipedream reported that the Empire State native features a mid to upper 90s fastball with a biting sweeper/slider. Those numbers alone should be enough to get Mitchell drafted, similar to when the Cardinals drafted Dylan Driessen out of South Dakota State in the 18th round in 2025.

Finally, @TimStats on X posted a graphic of the top college pitchers via his “Stuff+” model. Ryan Piech came in at #13, while Jackson Mitchell was featured in the #18 spot, just ahead of the likes of Cole Carlon, Jackson Flora, and Ethan Kleinschmit.

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Round 17 Pick 504: Evan Bouldin 1B, Delaware (Senior)

Bouldin put together a superb season for the Delaware Blue Hens, leading the team in all major offensive categories. Going into the season, Baseball America rated the Delaware senior as the top Division 1 player in the state, and Bouldin certainly lived up to that billing. The first baseman slashed .332/.426/.561 with 10 home runs while driving in 43 across 242 plate appearances. BA wrote in their 2026 preview that Bouldin swung over 50% of the time in 2025, but had promising underlying data to suggest the breakout that seemingly manifested in 2026.

My favorite part of the profile is the hit tool. Bouldin ran a minuscule 7.4% strikeout percentage, good for the 98th percentile, while walking at a clip good enough for the 77th percentile. The .229 ISO also suggests there is some pop in the bat, even if it will likely play more gap to gap in affiliated ball.

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This is a player profile I can’t help but love, even if the power doesn’t scream corner infield. A .424 season long OBP with 21 more career walks than strikeouts (104 to 83) and a bit of pop is too much to pass on here.

Round 18 Pick 534: Ethan Stade LHP, Bowling Green (5th year Senior)

Stade is a funky lefty who got incredible results for the Bowling Green Falcons in his fifth season of college baseball. Dealing from a low three quarters arm slot that approaches true side arm territory, Stade racked up 103 Ks across 64 innings, while only giving up 20 free passes. The K/9 ratio was one of the best in the country across 10 starts in 14 total appearances.

Additionally, Stade seemingly overperformed his 4.50 season ERA, posting a 1.84 SIERA, per D1 Baseball statistics. The elite strikeout numbers combined with the meager walk rate give him the nod here.

In terms of pitch metrics, the 6'4" lefty recently topped out at 91.8 mph on his fastball while pitching for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League.

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According to a twitter post he made while in the transfer portal, Stade sits 88–91 mph with his four seam with good spin (Max 2490 RPM), meaning his fastball will likely play up. The “slurve” spins at a 2520 RPM clip, and is thrown slower at around 76–80 mph.

If everything comes together, Stade could profile closely to Springfield Cardinal reliever Michael Watson.

Round 19 Pick 564: Chase Mayer LHP, Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Mayer transferred from division three Mount Union (OH) after the 2025 season and put together a stellar campaign for the Corpus Christi Islanders. The 6'4" left hander pitched 45 1/3 innings across 14 appearances (5 starts) while striking out 53 and walking just 15, good for a nearly 30% strikeout rate and sterling 8% walk rate according to D1 Baseball statistics. His 3.57 ERA was usurped by an even better 2.84 SIERA mark, all while holding batters to a .207 average.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I don’t have a way to verify Mayer’s pitch metrics, so this selection is entirely based on the statistical production and frame projectability; or put another way, old school scouting minus the radar guns and hard bleacher seats.

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Round 20 Pick 594: Tommy McAndrews C, Fordham (Senior)

Last year in the 20th round the Cardinals signed Central Missouri’s own Chase Heath for $5k. The way the minor league system is constructed, it’s prudent to bring in at least one catcher per draft class. Being as demanding a position as it is, having several experienced catchers in the lower minors to guide a pitching staff is also invaluable.

McAndrews profiles as a solid backstop who can do just that. The Massachusetts native started 184 games across four seasons behind the plate for the Fordham Rams, while being named a three-time captain. He had a breakout campaign in 2026 slashing .332/.430/.629 with 15 home runs across 55 games. While only boasting a 40th percentile walk rate at 9.9%, McAndrews has consistently narrowed the gap between his strikeout and walk percentage throughout his years in the Bronx. The K rate came down to 18.1% in 2026, firmly average across college baseball, via Over-Slot.

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Defensively, McAndrews threw out 20 of 61 runners on steal attempts in 2026, a respectable number. The runner-up in career home runs at Fordham profiles as a solid all-around backstop who can produce in a system for several years.

Parting Thoughts

If the Cardinals sign every listed player to the estimated signing bonus, they will shell out $17.42 million of their bonus pool to their draftees. The maximum amount they can spend is $17.43 million, or 105% of their bonus pool. Most teams bump up against this threshold each year, so this projection makes the Cardinals no different.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much. This project was a labor of love the last several months but I don’t regret any of it. It was my first time writing this type of analysis in the baseball sphere, and it was quite the learning experience. If this goes well I may try out other long form articles in the future — although likely nothing rivaling the length of this piece.

Finally, all I ask is you share with a friend who may enjoy this too!

Sources (Also Linked Throughout)

Over-Slot

D1 Baseball

Baseball America

Just Baseball

MLB Pipeline

Perfect Game