Rising and Falling: 3 Cardinals Prospects Surging, 3 Struggling in 2025
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Last offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals signaled a clear shift in direction, aiming to transition toward a younger roster and place greater emphasis on building for the future. It was widely understood that the organization intended to move on from several veteran players to open opportunities for emerging talent.
In line with this vision, the Cardinals hired Chaim Bloom—known for his emphasis on drafting and player development during his time with the Boston Red Sox. Bloom is expected to take over for John Mozeliak, potentially as early as August, ushering in a new era focused on sustainable, long-term success. With the 2025 season nearly 3 months in, let us see which prospects are surging and which ones are struggling.
3 Surging Prospects
C Rainiel Rodriguez
Rodriguez may not be a household name yet, but he’s quickly gaining attention throughout the organization and even among fans. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound catcher is currently ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals system and the third-highest-ranked catcher behind Jimmy Crooks and Leonardo Bernal.
The 18-year-old began his season in the Florida Complex League (FCL) and earned a fast promotion to Palm Beach after an impressive 19-game stretch, during which he posted a remarkable .362 batting average with a .506 on-base percentage, .828 slugging percentage, and 1.334 OPS. What stands out most is his exceptional feel for the barrel—consistently posting above-average exit velocities with elite launch distribution, which has translated into impressive home run totals.
Since arriving in Palm Beach, Rodriguez has struggled somewhat with getting on base, but the power has remained evident, as shown by a .471 slugging percentage through four games. It will be interesting to monitor his development in the coming weeks, but it’s clear the Cardinals have another promising catcher in the pipeline.
C Leonardo Bernal
Another catcher makes the list and for good reason. The Cardinals’ catching prospects have been playing at an impressive level this year. Bernal, ranked as the organization’s sixth-best overall prospect and second among catchers, is quietly putting together a standout season.
In 42 games with Double-A Springfield, Bernal is slashing .293/.374/.529 with a .903 OPS. He’s just two home runs shy of matching his career high of eleven. Notably, his plate discipline has improved significantly, as reflected in his 21-to-27 walk-to-strikeout ratio—evidence that he’s seeing the ball better and recognizing pitches more effectively than in previous seasons.
This has been Bernal’s best season to date in the minors, and it’s not just his offensive development that’s turning heads. Defensively, his arm has also impressed. While the Cardinals have generally struggled to throw out base stealers, Bernal has stood out, gunning down 13 of 34 attempted steals (a 38% success rate), which currently leads the organization.
RHP Tekoah Roby
Fans have been raving about Quinn Mathews since his breakout season in 2024, but this year, a different name is generating buzz: Tekoah Roby. Acquired in the trade package for Jordan Montgomery, Roby has excited fans since his arrival. There's never been any doubt about his raw talent and high ceiling, but injuries have hampered his progress within the organization. As a result, we've seen him struggle in the past. However, that appears to be changing this year.
As mentioned earlier, the potential has always been there and now we're finally seeing it come to life. The 23-year-old is having an outstanding season on the mound, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.49 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Springfield. Over 47 innings pitched, Roby has compiled an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, racking up 57 strikeouts against just 11 walks. The Cardinals have been searching for a pitcher who can generate swings and misses, and Roby might be that guy as his whiff% sits at 31.2%. Opponents are hitting just .199 against him, and when balls are put in play, his BABIP (batting average on balls in play) sits at .273.
Roby was recently promoted to Triple-A Memphis, so it will be interesting to track his continued development. He’ll need to adjust to using major league baseballs at this level, which may require some initial growing pains, so fans should remain patient as he settles in.
Honorable Mentions
I limited myself to highlighting three surging and three disappointing prospects this year, but there are a few other names worth keeping an eye on. Keep an eye out for players like Joshua Baez, Nathan Church, and Ixan Henderson who could make some more noise as the season progresses.
3 Disappointing Prospects
OF Chase Davis
Davis, a former first-round pick in 2023, is currently struggling in Springfield. The Cardinals appeared to land a steal by selecting him twenty-third overall, as he initially showed impressive raw power and strength. However, that power has declined this season in Double-A. Through 52 games, Davis is batting just .216, with a .347 on-base percentage, .346 slugging percentage, and a .693 OPS.
One of the most concerning trends is the sharp drop in his wRC+. After consistently performing well above league average in recent years, he's now slightly below average at 97. Strikeouts have also been a major issue—his strikeout rate is at a career-worst 28%. On the bright side, he's maintained excellent plate discipline, posting an impressive 14.7% walk rate.
Defensively, Davis has been a bright spot. He’s committed just one error all season and has made several highlight-reel catches, showcasing his athleticism in the field.
RHP Darlin Saladin
Saladin emerged as a standout prospect last year, catching the attention of numerous scouts and team officials. His impressive 2024 season, highlighted by a 10-3 record and a 2.71 ERA over 123 innings pitched between Low-A Palm Beach and High-A Peoria, earned him a spot in the Cardinals' Top 30 Prospects, debuting at No. 17.
However, his 2025 season has been a complete reversal. Saladin has struggled significantly at Peoria, appearing in 11 games (10 starts) with a 1-2 record and a 5.44 ERA across 43 innings. Most notably, his strikeout numbers have declined. After posting a 9.8 K/9 rate in 2024, he's down to just 7.1 this year, a clear indication he's having trouble generating swing-and-miss stuff. Additionally, his HR/9 has risen above 1.0 for the first time in his career, a sign of potential command or location issues, which could also be contributing to his declining whiff rate.
OF Matt Koperniak
Since joining the Cardinals organization in 2021, Matt Koperniak has been a steady offensive presence. Known for his high batting averages and consistent OPS in the .800–.850 range, he has also demonstrated solid power, hitting 18 home runs in 2023 and following that up with 20 in 2024. A key part of his success has been his plate discipline, where he’s shown a strong feel for the strike zone and a good walk rate, which contributed to his consistency at the plate.
This performance helped Koperniak rise into the Cardinals’ top 30 prospect rankings, where he debuted at No. 18. However, 2025 has been his most challenging season in the minors. Now 27 years old, he risks falling out of the top 30.
In 46 games with Triple-A Memphis, Koperniak is hitting just .215 with a .268 on-base percentage, .330 slugging percentage, and a .598 OPS. Perhaps most concerning is the significant drop in his walk rate, which has fallen to a career-low 5.4%, roughly half of his typical mark near 10%. His overall offensive production, measured by wRC+, has dropped to just 57, a significant decline. The concern with Koperniak isn’t just that he’s struggling, but how dramatic and sudden the regression has been.
