Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of baseball prospects! Today, we're shining the spotlight on Tekoah Roby, the #11 prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals. But here's the twist: these rankings might not tell the whole story of Roby's journey. Last year, he was ranked #10, but his performance in the 2025 season was a game-changer. If fans had a glimpse of that season's magic, he would have soared higher in the rankings. So, these rankings are a bit of a rollercoaster ride, reflecting his rise and fall in a unique way.
Despite dropping a spot, Tekoah Roby is considered an even stronger prospect this year. With a more robust system and an impressive lineup of high-upside players ahead of him, he's ready to make his mark. Here's the full list of Cardinals prospects:
- JJ Wetherholt
- Liam Doyle
- Rainiel Rodriguez
- Quinn Mathews
- Jurrangelo Cjintje
- Joshua Baez
- Leonardo Bernal
- Jimmy Crooks
- Brandon Clarke
- Tink Hence
- Tekoah Roby
Now, let's dive into the intriguing story of Jurrangelo Cjintje. When the Cardinals made a trade, acquiring Cjintje, we had already ranked the top 7 prospects. Instead of starting from scratch, Cjintje is battling it out with the other prospects, one-on-one, until he either triumphs or meets his match. So far, he's defeated Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Joshua Baez. If he continues his winning streak against Quinn Mathews, he'll get a shot at Rainiel Rodriguez. But if he loses, he'll still be an impressive #5 prospect in the system.
Cjintje is a unique talent, a switch pitcher with a clear preference for pitching right-handed. From the right side, he brings mid-90s speed, topping out at a blazing 99 mph. His cutter and sweeper are deadly, with the sweeper being his signature pitch. From his left side, he's a two-pitch pitcher, still impressive with low 90s speed and a solid sweeper. The numbers don't lie; he walked more than he struck out from the left side, but his right-handed pitching was a force to be reckoned with, boasting a 5.0 K/BB ratio and allowing only 3 homers in 34.1 innings pitched.
Now, let's compare Cjintje to two other pitchers: Pete Hansen and Chen Wei-Lin. Hansen, drafted in the 3rd round in 2022, has steadily made his way to AAA, spending time in Low A, High A, and AA. His command is his main strength, with a low walk rate and a solid 21.1 K%. On the other hand, Chen Wei-Lin had a down year, but his fastball could be MLB-quality, with Fangraphs giving it a potential 70-grade rating. Despite command issues, he still had impressive FIP and xFIP numbers in High A.
Introducing a new addition to our prospect list: Tai Peete. Acquired in the trade for Brendan Donovan, Peete is finally joining the voting. At just 20 years old, he's shown promise with a .187 ISO in High A, a statistic that bodes well for his future.
Let's meet some more prospects:
- Jesus Baez, 21, IF: Baez has solid stats in High A, with a .244/.327/.397 slash line and impressive power and speed ratings.
- Nathan Church, 25, OF: Church's ascension came at 24, not 25, and his stats are a testament to his talent. He's got a 55/55 hit tool, 35/35 game power, and 55/55 speed.
- Yhoiker Fajardo, 19, RHP: Fajardo dominated in the complex league and Low A, with impressive K% and GB%.
- Tanner Franklin, 22, RHP: Franklin's fastball is rated 60/70, and he's working on building up his innings.
- Ixan Henderson, 24, LHP: Henderson's ERA and FIP are impressive, and his command is rated 40/50.
- Cooper Hjerpe, 25, LHP: Hjerpe underwent Tommy John surgery, but his recovery is on track, and he could throw a career-high number of innings this season.
- Brycen Mautz, 24, LHP: Mautz's K% and command are impressive, and his FIP and xFIP are solid.
- Deniel Ortiz, 21, 1B/3B: Ortiz's stats are elite, with a .285/.406/.446 slash line in Low A and High A.
- Yairo Padilla, 19, SS: Padilla's prospect ranking is largely due to his impressive bat, with a .283/.396/.367 slash line in the complex league.
- Tai Peete, 20, OF: Peete's ISO of .187 in High A is a promising sign for his future.
These prospects are ready to make their mark on the Cardinals organization. Who do you think will rise to the top? Will Tekoah Roby's performance in the 2025 season be a turning point in his career? And what about Cjintje's unique pitching style - will it be an advantage or a challenge? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments! We want to hear your insights and opinions on these exciting young talents.
