The St. Louis Cardinals have already given fans plenty of reasons to be excited about their young talent, with nine players making their MLB debuts this season. That group includes JJ Wetherholt, Matt Pushard, Bryan Torres, Brycen Mautz, Blaze Jordan, Max Rajcic, Luis Gastelum, Quinn Mathews and, most recently, Joshua Báez, whose historic debut instantly became one of the biggest moments of the Cardinals’ season.
But with the Cardinals still refusing to give up on their postseason hopes, the focus is quickly shifting to another question: Who could be the next prospect to make an impact in St. Louis?
Since Chaim Bloom took over as president of baseball operations in September 2025, player development has become a major part of the organization’s long-term strategy. The Cardinals have emphasized drafting, developing and promoting their own talent, and that approach is beginning to show results. Several independent prospect outlets now rank St. Louis among baseball’s top farm systems, with Baseball America placing the organization second overall.
That influx of young talent has already strengthened the major-league roster, but the pipeline is far from empty. More prospects are pushing toward the big leagues, and the Cardinals could have several intriguing options if they need reinforcements during the final weeks of the season.
Manager Oliver Marmol has also made it clear that the club wants its young players to experience meaningful baseball. Rather than simply looking toward the future, St. Louis would like to give this emerging group a taste of a postseason race and potentially establish the foundation of a winning culture.
The Cardinals have already recovered from their difficult stretch following the All-Star break. They have won four consecutive series against the Yankees, Rockies, Phillies and Cubs and have gone 8-4 during their recent surge. With St. Louis battling for a Wild Card position, additional reinforcements could make a significant difference.
Here are three players who could be worth watching.
Cade Winquest Could Add Strikeout Power
Right-hander Cade Winquest has quietly put together an intriguing season at Triple-A despite a traditional ERA that doesn’t immediately jump off the page.
Winquest spent part of the season with the New York Yankees after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft before eventually returning to the Cardinals organization. His 5.09 ERA doesn’t tell the entire story. His underlying numbers have been considerably more encouraging, including a 3.53 FIP and 49 strikeouts in just 35⅓ innings.
His 34.8% strikeout rate demonstrates the type of swing-and-miss ability that could be valuable to a Cardinals bullpen trying to make a postseason push. Even more encouraging is his 6% walk rate, suggesting that his strikeout-heavy approach hasn’t come at the expense of control.
Winquest has allowed some hard contact, including a .197 isolated-power mark against him, but a move to St. Louis could help mitigate some of those concerns. He would be pitching in front of one of the stronger defenses in baseball and at Busch Stadium, a venue known for suppressing home runs.
The right-hander also has an extensive six-pitch arsenal, featuring a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, curveball, sweeper and changeup. That variety could give him multiple ways to attack major-league hitters.
If the Cardinals want more strikeout ability in their bullpen down the stretch, Winquest could become an interesting September option.
Hancel Rincon Offers Another High-Strikeout Option
Another intriguing right-handed pitcher is Hancel Rincon, whose success has been built largely around his ability to generate swings and misses.
Rincon’s slider is his primary weapon, and his numbers show just how effective it can be. He has posted a 29.4% strikeout rate, a 30.2% whiff rate and a 34% chase rate, giving him the ability to get hitters to expand the strike zone.
Like Winquest, Rincon has occasionally struggled with hard contact. However, the Cardinals could potentially help mask that weakness with their defense and the pitcher-friendly environment at Busch Stadium.
Rincon works primarily with a three-pitch mix consisting of a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His approach could make him particularly useful in shorter bullpen appearances where his ability to miss bats would be prioritized.
There is also an organizational reason for the Cardinals to consider giving him a look sooner rather than later. Both Rincon and Winquest will need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
Promoting either pitcher could therefore serve two purposes: helping the Cardinals immediately while giving the organization a better understanding of their long-term potential.
Leonardo Bernal Could Strengthen the Catching Situation
The most intriguing position-player option may be catcher Leonardo Bernal, who represents another major piece of the Cardinals’ deep catching pipeline.
St. Louis has invested heavily in catching talent, and Bernal could eventually emerge as the most complete option of the group. Jimmy Crooks arrived with considerable expectations but has struggled to deliver consistently on both sides of the ball. Pedro Pagés has shown value as a backup catcher, while Ivan Herrera has made progress with his receiving and game-calling.
However, Herrera’s throwing ability remains a concern, particularly if the Cardinals eventually find themselves playing tight postseason games where controlling the running game becomes increasingly important.
Bernal offers a much broader skill set. A minor-league Gold Glove winner, he has demonstrated the ability to contribute defensively while also providing legitimate offensive production.
Entering the latest stretch of the season, Bernal was hitting .283/.366/.475, good for an .841 OPS, with a .192 ISO and 117 wRC+. Those numbers suggest he could provide more than simply defensive stability behind the plate.
Unlike Winquest and Rincon, Bernal already occupies a spot on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, meaning promoting him would be relatively straightforward from a roster-management standpoint.
His arrival would also give St. Louis another potential offensive weapon at a position where production can be difficult to find.
Cardinals’ Prospect Pipeline Could Keep Paying Off
Joshua Báez’s arrival has already demonstrated what the Cardinals’ new development philosophy can produce. His spectacular MLB debut gave St. Louis another young bat capable of making an immediate impact, while the organization’s recent promotions have provided additional evidence that the farm system is beginning to deliver.
Now, the Cardinals have several other prospects who could potentially contribute.
Winquest would offer strikeout ability out of the bullpen. Rincon could provide another swing-and-miss arm, while Bernal could strengthen a catching position that remains one of the organization’s deepest areas.
The bigger question is whether St. Louis is willing to accelerate the development of those players because of its unexpected postseason opportunity.
At the beginning of the season, few expected the Cardinals to remain relevant this late in the year. A rebuild appeared to be the more obvious path. Instead, the club has stabilized, young players have stepped forward and the team has positioned itself within striking distance of the Wild Card race.
That makes the final weeks particularly interesting. The Cardinals aren’t simply developing for tomorrow anymore—they’re developing while trying to win today.
And if another prospect gets the call, St. Louis could once again discover that its best reinforcement might already be inside the organization.
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