Drake Baldwin, C, Braves: The Braves added a draft pick after the first round of the 2026 draft when Baldwin won the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 24-year-old catcher was Prospect Promotion Incentive eligible, meaning that a ROY win triggers a PPI draft pick for Atlanta. The Royals held a PPI pick in the 2025 draft. It was 28th overall and carried a slot value of nearly $3.3 million. For everything you ever wanted to know about the Prospect Promotion Incentive, please see our PPI primer.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins: Rodriguez is trying to make up for some lost time by playing for Aguilas this winter. He hasn't consistently hit for average, but he is showing his always impressive power and on-base skills. Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base on Sunday. Rodriguez is now hitting .229/.365/.543. He is striking out 29.5% of the time, but he has three homers in 13 games.

Max Acosta, INF, Marlins: After making his MLB debut late in the 2025 season, Acosta headed straight to La Guaira, where he has been one of the more consistent hitters in the Venezuelan winter league. Acosta went 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and his fifth home run in 21 games. Acosta is now hitting .345/.417/.571 with five homers and eight steals.

Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies: Condon went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Monday. As his Arizona Fall League wraps up this week, Condon has shown his hitting ability, although 24 of his 28 AFL hits are singles. Condon is hitting .350/.453/.450 with 12 walks and 16 strikeouts in 21 games.

Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners: Farmelo has struggled to hit for average in his Arizona Fall League stint, but thanks to his batting eye, his on-base percentage is in fine form. Farmelo went 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base on Monday. He's hitting .230/.402/.405 in the AFL with 12 steals in 14 attempts and three triples in 22 games. While Farmelo's OBP is excellent, it is worth noting the the AFL's pitchers have had a nightmare of a time throwing strikes. Peoria's 5.96 walks per nine innings is best in the league and Glendale's staff is walking 7.91 per nine.

Cardinals Top 10 Prospects For 2026

Today, we're unveiling the 10 best prospects in the Cardinals system entering 2026.

The top of the Cardinals system is headlined by JJ Wetherholt, a 2024 first-rounder who could break camp with the big league team this spring en route to becoming St. Louis' potential long-term answer at a handful of infield spots.

Baseball America's Geoff Pontes is hosting a chat at 2 p.m. ET to discuss Wetherholt and the overall state of St. Louis' farm system.

Projected 2029 Cardinals Lineup

Catcher: Rainiel Rodriguez (22)
First Base: Alec Burleson (30)
Second Base: Thomas Saggese (27)
Third Base: JJ Wetherholt (26)
Shortstop: Masyn Winn (27)
Left Field: Jordan Walker (27)
Center Field: Victor Scott II (28)
Right Field: Joshua Baez (26)
Designated Hitter: Ivan Herrera (29)

No. 1 Starter: Liam Doyle (25)
No. 2 Starter: Quinn Mathews (28)
No. 3 Starter: Matthew Liberatore (29)
No. 4 Starter: Tanner Franklin (25)
No. 5 Starter: Ixan Henderson (27)
Closer: Matt Svanson (30)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to St. Louis' Top 10, click here.

Cardinals Best Tools

Best Hitter for Average: JJ Wetherholt
Best Power Hitter: Rainiel Rodriguez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: JJ Wetherholt
Fastest Baserunner: Joshua Baez
Best Athlete: Joshua Baez
Best Fastball: Liam Doyle 
Best Curveball: Tekoah Roby
Best Slider: Tanner Franklin
Best Changeup: Braden Davis
Best Control: Tekoah Roby
Best Defensive Catcher: Jimmy Crooks
Best Defensive Infielder: JJ Wetherholt
Best Infield Arm: Yairo Padilla
Best Defensive Outfielder: Nathan Church
Best Outfield Arm: Joshua Baez

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