6 Players the Cardinals Should Target With Their 2nd Round Pick (#55 Overall)
Credit: (Iowa Athletics)
I’m continuing my draft preview with the Cardinals’ second pick, 55th overall. This is a range the team hasn’t found itself in often in recent years, as they haven’t made a second-round selection since 2022. That pick was Brycen Mautz, who is showing signs of a resurgence in 2025. Looking at the likely demographics the Cardinals could target at this spot, college pitchers and high school bats stand out the most. Both groups are well-represented at the top of this year’s class and seem like logical fits for the organization. For this preview, I’ve decided to highlight six players instead of five—three college arms and three prep bats—that I think are realistic options for the Cardinals with pick number 55.
LHP Cade Obermueller (Iowa)
As always, we begin with the man in the photo—Cade Obermueller. The Iowa ace delivered his best collegiate season in 2025, posting a 3.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 117 strikeouts—all career highs—across a career-best 83.1 innings pitched. That’s nearly 30 more innings than his 2024 total of 59.2, signaling both improved durability and effectiveness. The biggest issue in Obermueller’s college career had been his elevated walk rate—7.8 BB/9 in 2023 and 6.2 BB/9 in 2024—but he made significant strides in 2025, cutting that number to a much more manageable 3.5 BB/9. That improved command has likely elevated his draft stock well beyond where he was projected last year as a draft-eligible sophomore.
In terms of his arsenal, Obermueller works with a three-pitch mix from a difficult low-slot, sidearm release that gives hitters a tough look. His fastball averaged 92.5 mph but plays up thanks to plus extension, touching as high as 97.9 mph. With professional development, he could consistently sit in the 94–95 mph range. His primary out pitch is a sweeping slider that averages 81 mph with 18 inches of horizontal break and produced a 35% whiff rate in 2025. He also mixes in a mid-80s changeup that, while used sparingly, was highly effective with a 39% whiff rate.
The Cardinals have targeted a bunch of low-slot lefties in recent years, with players like Cooper Hjerpe, Quinn Mathews, Ixan Henderson, and Brycen Mautz showing varying degrees of success. Obermueller might offer even more upside than those guys, especially if a pro development system can help him unlock his full velocity potential. He could become a real weapon at the next level.
C/OF Jaden Fauske (Nazareth Academy, Illinois)
When it comes to intriguing high school bats, Fauske fits the bill perfectly—and he’s proven it throughout his prep career, particularly on the showcase circuit. Last year, he posted an in-zone contact rate of over 90%, paired with an elite (for his age) hard-hit rate of over 30%, which ranked among the top prospects in the circuit. For context, Ethan Holliday—widely considered the top power bat in this class—registered a hard-hit rate just below 30%. Named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, Fauske consistently produced exit velocities north of 90 mph, with a peak around 105 mph, all from a smooth, left-handed swing.
In terms of balancing contact and power, Fauske stands out as one of the best in the high school class, right alongside other top prep hitters like JoJo Parker and Josh Hammond—both projected first-round picks. There’s a real chance he comes off the board before the Cardinals’ selection, but if he’s still available, he would be a strong pick. I expect he would be the best bat on the board at that point and would likely command a substantial overslot bonus at that spot.
There are some questions about his ultimate position on the diamond. While he’s been listed as a catcher, Fauske played very little behind the plate during the high school season and may ultimately transition to a corner outfield spot. That said, he has the athleticism to handle the outfield well, and his offensive profile—projected to carry at least 20-home-run power—should more than support the move.
LHP JD Thompson (Vanderbilt)
From one left-handed college pitcher to another, JD Thompson stands out as one of the top pitchability arms in this year’s draft, featuring a four-pitch mix with the potential for all four offerings to grade at least average. Thompson had a solid season as Vanderbilt’s Friday night starter, posting a 4.00 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 122 strikeouts over 90 innings.
His arsenal includes a fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball. The fastball sits in the 92–93 mph range and touches 96, with 18 inches of induced vertical break—an above-average mark that contributes to a strong 30.5% in-zone whiff rate. His slider is another effective weapon, generating a 30.7% whiff rate this year. The curveball, averaging 77 mph, produced an elite 42.3% whiff rate, though inconsistent command has limited its impact. The changeup was an even a bigger bat misser than his other offerings, producing a massive 53.2% whiff rate while allowing barrels just 16% of the time. However, it’s currently hampered by a below-average in-zone rate of just 24.8%.
Overall, Thompson fits the mold of a relatively high-floor, pitchability-focused arm that the Cardinals have targeted in recent drafts—eerily similar to their selection of Brian Holiday last year—but with a bit more swing-and-miss upside. While his ceiling may not match that of other options, his polish and command of a deep arsenal give him a clear path to becoming a dependable back-end starter. If the Cardinals were to select him, it wouldn’t be a surprising move.
3B Brady Ebel (Corona HS, California)
The third member of the elite Corona trio, Brady Ebel, held down third base for the Panthers this season, as top prospect Billy Carlson took most of the reps at shortstop—and for good reason, as Carlson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the class. Ebel has the athleticism to play shortstop, but at 6'3" and 195 pounds—with more physical development likely in pro ball—he projects to stick at third base long-term. That shouldn't be an issue, as he boasts one of the strongest arms in the draft, reaching 90 mph on throws during the MLB Draft Combine last week.
The son of former minor league player and current Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, Brady is also one of the youngest players in the draft—he’ll be just 17 on draft day and won’t turn 18 until two weeks later. His hit tool is already considered a plus and compares favorably to his Corona teammate Carlson. While the power hasn’t fully developed yet, Ebel showed promising signs at the Combine, including a 103.6 mph exit velocity, which ranked near the middle of the pack among high school hitters in attendance.
With his strong baseball lineage—which has clearly helped shape his advanced baseball IQ—Ebel would be a very solid pick for the Cardinals. His talent may be a bit underrated, largely because he’s been overshadowed by teammates Billy Carlson and Seth Hernandez, both of whom carry top-10 pick potential.
RHP Marcus Phillips (Tennessee)
The first two college pitchers on this list earned their spots thanks to their advanced pitch ability and secondary arsenal as opposed to thunderous raw stuff. Phillips, however, doesn’t quite fit that mold—he’s more of a power pitcher with a big frame and premium velocity. Standing at 6’4” and 250 pounds, Phillips brings serious heat, with a fastball that averaged 96 mph and occasionally touched triple digits.
His secondary offerings include a slider and a changeup. The slider sits around 85 mph and can reach up to 90, generating a strong 39.5% whiff rate. He doesn’t throw his low-90s changeup often, but when he does, it’s highly effective—producing an elite 42.9% whiff rate. As he enters pro ball, gaining more feel and consistency with the changeup will be important. Long-term, he’ll likely need to develop an additional offering off his fastball to keep hitters honest at higher levels.
That said, college arms with Phillips’ raw velocity and physicality rarely fall far. He’s already receiving some Comp-A buzz, so there’s a real chance he’s off the board before the Cardinals pick at 55. While the Cardinals haven’t selected a pitcher of this profile in recent years, the arrival of new player development leaders like Rob Cerfolio and Matt Pierpont could make Phillips an intriguing project. With the right development path, he has the upside to grow into a front-of-the-rotation starter. He’s even drawn comparisons to Hunter Greene and Kumar Rocker—not necessarily for the same pure stuff, but for their body-types and arm talent.
SS Dax Kilby (Newnan HS, GA)
One of the biggest standouts from the MLB Draft Combine was Georgia prep shortstop Dax Kilby, who turned heads with a strong all-around showing. Former MLB manager Buck Showalter highlighted Kilby on the MLB Network broadcast, praising both his bat and his alertness on defense. Kilby impressed during batting practice, registering a 107.5 mph exit velocity—one of the top marks among high school participants. He also addressed some of the defensive concerns surrounding his profile with a sharp infield session and showed promising arm strength that could keep him at shortstop long term.
If he doesn’t stick at short, Kilby has the speed and athleticism to shift to second base or center field. He posted the fourth-fastest 30-yard dash time at the event with a 3.50-second sprint, reinforcing his positional versatility. Offensively, Kilby has long been viewed as a hit-first prospect. On the showcase circuit, he rarely chased out of the zone and recorded an in-zone contact rate near 90%—one of the best in the class. He also demonstrated excellent plate discipline, possibly the best among prep hitters, which is a trait the Cardinals have historically valued.
A high-IQ player with a strong track record, Kilby led Newnan High School to a state title this year and has performed well across multiple national events. He features a quick, easy left-handed swing with clear gap-to-gap power and has a 6'2", 190-pound frame that’s highly projectable—suggesting more power will come as he fills out physically. Overall, Kilby profiles as a slightly older but less polished version of Eli Willits, with the only real question mark being his defense. However, he may have quieted those concerns with his combine performance.
One lingering issue is a history of shoulder trouble early in his high school career, which has led to a somewhat unrefined throwing motion. Still, that’s something pro development systems are well-equipped to address. All things considered, Kilby is an intriguing upside play with the tools and makeup to rise quickly through a system — especially for a prep prospect.
