MLB · 3 months ago

MLB Prospects: 7 Cardinals Up and Comers You Need to Know

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Tink Hence — Double-A Springfield Cardinals
Tink Hence has electric stuff, but durability concerns. His fastball touches 98, and his best pitch is a fading circle change. Also in his arsenal: a slider and a curveball.

However, Hence has never thrown 100 innings in a season. In 2025, he's thrown just 21.1 innings due to injury, with a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 IP since returning to Double-A. At just 22, the Cards hope he can stay healthy enough to remain a starter.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Quinn Mathews — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
A 4th-round pick in 2023 out of Stanford, Quinn Mathews is best remembered for his 156-pitch gem in the Super Regionals. He’s currently ranked No. 52 in Just Baseball’s Top 100 prospects.
Though his 2025 season has been uneven (4.65 ERA, 43 K, 39 BB in 40.2 IP), Mathews has added velocity—now hitting 96 with his fastball—and flashes promise with a full four-pitch mix. He remains a project, but one with mid-rotation upside.

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JJ Wetherholt — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
JJ Wetherholt, the St. Louis Cardinals’ top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft (7th overall), is turning heads in his first professional season. After slashing an elite .300/.425/.466 across 62 Double-A games—with seven home runs, 34 RBI, and a .891 OPS—Wetherholt earned a promotion to Triple-A Memphis. He’s walked more than he’s struck out (44 BB to 40 K) and has stolen 14 bases in 16 tries.

The 22-year-old West Virginia product is blocked at the MLB level by Masyn Winn and Brendan Donovan, but if the Cards deal Nolan Gorman, Wetherholt could debut this fall.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis and insights for this slideshow article.
Michael McGreevy — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Selected 18th overall in 2021, Michael McGreevy has made major strides. In 75 innings with Memphis, he sports a 3.72 ERA and 3.33 FIP. He’s also logged 21.1 MLB innings this season (4.22 ERA, 3.36 FIP), flashing a diverse six-pitch arsenal including a standout slider.

Despite inconsistent usage, McGreevy appears ready for a full-time MLB role—especially as the rotation battles depth issues.

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Leonardo Bernal — Double-A Springfield Cardinals
A 21-year-old switch-hitting catcher signed in 2021, Leonardo Bernal is slashing .278/.349/.469 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 64 Double-A games. He excels defensively—framing, blocking, throwing—and could be a long-term option behind the plate.

Bernal is stuck behind a logjam of catchers in the system, but if a trade opens a spot, he’ll be first in line.
Gordon Graceffo — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Gordon Graceffo, a 2021 fifth-rounder, has moved to the bullpen but still profiles as a back-end rotation option. He’s made 14 MLB appearances to date and could be a stretch-run asset.

Armed with a four-pitch mix and improved command, Graceffo’s 2025 progress has his name in the conversation for more big-league innings.
Chase Davis — Double-A Springfield Cardinals
Chase Davis was the Cardinals’ 2023 first-rounder, prized for his slugging at Arizona (.742 SLG, 1.231 OPS over two seasons). The results haven’t fully translated—he’s hitting .211/.334/.333 in 73 games at Double-A—but his power remains evident.

Davis is still finding his footing, but with further polish, he projects as a long-term outfield fixture.
Tink Hence — Double-A Springfield Cardinals
Tink Hence has electric stuff, but durability concerns. His fastball touches 98, and his best pitch is a fading circle change. Also in his arsenal: a slider and a curveball.

However, Hence has never thrown 100 innings in a season. In 2025, he's thrown just 21.1 innings due to injury, with a 4.22 ERA in 10.2 IP since returning to Double-A. At just 22, the Cards hope he can stay healthy enough to remain a starter.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
Quinn Mathews — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
A 4th-round pick in 2023 out of Stanford, Quinn Mathews is best remembered for his 156-pitch gem in the Super Regionals. He’s currently ranked No. 52 in Just Baseball’s Top 100 prospects.
Though his 2025 season has been uneven (4.65 ERA, 43 K, 39 BB in 40.2 IP), Mathews has added velocity—now hitting 96 with his fastball—and flashes promise with a full four-pitch mix. He remains a project, but one with mid-rotation upside.

Swing for the Fences with SportsGrid’s free daily MLB Game Picks and MLB Prop Picks.

MLB Prospects: 7 Cardinals Up and Comers You Need to Know

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