Redbird Farmhands’ Top 30 Prospects: Post-Deadline (30–21)
Credit: PJ Maigi/Springfield Cardinals
To kick things off, I am starting with prospects ranked 30 through 21 from my recently released Top 30 list. This is the first in a three-part series explaining the thought process behind my rankings. I will also mention a few players who narrowly missed the list, making this closer to a Top 35.
Just missed the top 30
RHP Randel Clemente
Clemente was the first prospect left off my list. He possesses some of the best pure stuff in the entire system, but his command remains a work in progress. That said, he has shown significant improvement this year, which helped him earn a quick promotion to Double-A as a relief prospect.
1B/C Josh Kross
Kross also just missed the cut. After a hot start in the spring with Palm Beach, he cooled off considerably. Since his promotion to Peoria, he has struggled, batting only .215 with an OPS under .700. Despite these challenges, Kross offers some of the best power in the organization, which keeps him an intriguing player to follow.
1B/3B Blaze Jordan
Jordan is another notable omission. Long hyped as a prep power hitter, he has surprisingly developed into more of a contact-over-power type. His lower strikeout rate is encouraging, but his average exit velocities are unimpressive. This results in too many ground balls, which is problematic given that he grades out as only a 30-grade athlete. His defensive limitations at both first and third base add further concerns.
RHP Ethan Young
Young, the Cardinals' fifth-round pick this year, also warrants mention. Like many of the 2025 draft class, he features an intriguing arsenal but carries some reliever risk. While he does not yet crack the Top 30, a strong professional debut could push him into future rankings.
RHP Leonel Sequera
Sequera stands out as one of the youngest starters in the system at just 20 years old, with already a year and a half of experience at Palm Beach. His command is advanced for his age, and his full pitch mix gives him a starter’s foundation. While most of his pitches are currently average, his slider flashes above-average potential. With time to refine his arsenal, Sequera could eventually develop into a Top 30 prospect.
#30 LHP - Brycen Mautz
Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Good: I am admittedly lower on Mautz than many evaluators, but he has made significant strides this season. Most notably, his velocity has ticked up, now sitting in the mid-90s rather than the low 90s he showed in 2024. That increase has allowed his pitches to play better across the board. His changeup, once a below-average pitch, has improved to a solid average offering with the potential to become above average thanks to sharper command. Mautz has also posted the lowest walk rate of his career at 2.9 BB/9, reflecting meaningful progress with his control. Based on his recent stretch, if I were to rerank today, he would likely place higher.
Bad: The primary concern with Mautz remains his control. While the lower walk rate is encouraging, he still too often works himself into deep counts, limiting him to just 4.1 innings per start on average. There are also questions about the fastball’s sustainability as he advances. Against Triple-A competition and with the MLB ball, the pitch could regress to an average offering rather than maintaining its current effectiveness at Double-A. These factors contribute to some lingering reliever risk in his profile.
#29 RHP - Brian Holiday
Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 65 | Overall: 40
Good: Holiday demonstrated elite command throughout his college career. He rarely issued walks and consistently located his pitches, allowing him to maximize his arsenal even without top-end velocity or metrics. This precision enabled him to work deep into games, averaging more than seven innings per start in 2024 at Oklahoma State. Both the fastball and slider currently grade as above-average offerings, and there is potential for them to improve further if additional velocity is unlocked.
Bad: The main concern stems from workload. Holiday was heavily overused at Oklahoma State, which ultimately led to elbow surgery during spring training. As a result, he is unlikely to return until at least next spring, leaving significant uncertainty about how his stuff will play against professional hitters. Another risk is that his command, which is his defining trait, could decline post-surgery. If that precision does not return, his ceiling is limited, and he may not progress beyond Triple-A.
#28 SS - Yairo Padilla
Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60 | Overall: 40+
Good: Padilla’s strongest attributes are his hit tool and his baserunning ability. In the FCL this year, he posted an impressive strikeout rate of just 14.2 percent while walking at a 12.2 percent clip, both improvements over his already strong plate discipline in the DSL in 2024. On the bases, he was a true weapon, swiping 24 bags in 38 games while being caught only four times. That rate ranked fifth in the FCL and underscores his elite speed. Defensively, Padilla is reported to have an above-average arm and solid range at shortstop, though much of that evaluation comes from external scouting reports rather than my direct observation.
Bad: The two primary concerns with Padilla are his lack of power and the limited data available from the FCL. His ISO dropped from .118 in the DSL in 2024 to just .083 this season in the FCL. This decline is worrisome, as prospects who fail to show any early power often struggle to advance beyond levels like Palm Beach or Peoria. That said, Padilla is still young and could grow into more power as he continues to develop stateside. The other challenge is the absence of reliable video or detailed data from the FCL, which makes evaluating him more difficult. Given that uncertainty, I prefer to take a conservative stance on his ranking rather than being overly aggressive.
#27 LHP - Mason Molina
Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Good: Molina’s best attributes are his changeup and fastball combination. His profile is similar to pitchers like Braden Davis and Cade Crossland, though with less velocity, which lowers his overall ceiling. The changeup is a true weapon, generating consistent swing-and-miss and driving his strong strikeout numbers despite a fastball that sits only 90–92 mph. The fastball itself has solid movement characteristics, giving it life up in the zone when his command is working.
Bad: The biggest concern with Molina is his command, which may be below even a 45 grade. Since joining the Cardinals organization at the deadline, he has struggled to find the zone, issuing five, two, and three walks in his three starts (11.2 innings total). Without more consistent command, both the fastball and changeup will lose effectiveness, and he risks stalling out before advancing past the lower minors.
#26 RHP - Sem Robberse
Fastball: 40 | Changeup: 55 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40
Good: Robberse’s best weapons are his slider and changeup, both of which project as quality pitches. If they maintain their effectiveness, he has the potential to develop into a solid bullpen piece for the Cardinals in the future. His command is also above average, which allows him to limit damage and avoid compounding mistakes when he does run into trouble.
Bad: The obvious concern is that Robberse underwent Tommy John surgery in May, which means the earliest possible return is the middle of the 2026 season. As with Holiday, there is a real risk that the procedure impacts his command, which is critical to his profile. Additionally, his fastball and cutter both grade as average to below average, with the cutter showing slightly more promise. This lack of a reliable fastball makes it difficult to envision him as a long-term starter at the major league level. The hope is that he returns healthy and perhaps adds a tick of velocity to make his arsenal more effective.
#25 OF - Ian Petrutz
Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40
Good: Ian Petrutz was one of my favorite selections from the 2024 draft, and so far he has validated that belief by performing above average at both Palm Beach and Peoria. His standout tool is the bat, highlighted by an excellent strikeout rate of just 12.7 percent at Peoria paired with a 10.7 percent walk rate. He also showed signs of unlocking more power, posting a .112 ISO at Peoria after recording a .089 ISO at Palm Beach earlier in the season. Defensively, Petrutz is reliable with a solid arm, and he makes up for his average speed by playing with effort and fearlessness. He often attempts plays that other outfielders would not, and more often than not he completes them.
Bad: The main concern is whether Petrutz ever fully develops his power. As a corner outfielder, the profile becomes more difficult to carry if he is only producing around 10 home runs per year. There is also some risk that he slows down with age, which could turn him from a slightly above average defender into a below average one. Even with those questions, his hit tool is strong enough that I expect it to carry him through the system.
#24 RHP - Luis Gastelum
Fastball: 45 | Changeup: 70 | Slider: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40+
Good: Gastelum’s changeup is not only the best in the Cardinals organization but may also be the best changeup in all of the minor leagues. The pitch generates an extraordinary amount of swing and miss, which has made him one of the premier strikeout pitchers in the minors. For his career, he has averaged 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings, including an elite 13.8 strikeouts per nine at the Double-A level this year. He also commands the pitch extremely well, with a career walk rate of just 2.0 per nine innings. In addition, his slider is a solid secondary offering that further complements his arsenal.
Bad: When Gastelum loses the feel for his changeup, the rest of his arsenal becomes far less effective. In those outings, he has been prone to giving up crooked numbers, including several games with four or five runs allowed. As he moves up the ladder, he will need to limit those types of starts and prove he can compete even when his best pitch is not at its sharpest.
#23 1B/3B - Jack Gurevitch
Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40+
Good: Gurevitch owns one of the best hit tools among the Cardinals’ 2025 draft class. In college, he consistently handled fastballs well and posted strong plate discipline, striking out just 19 percent of the time while walking 15 percent. His batted-ball data also stands out, with exit velocities reaching as high as 117 mph, which suggests room for his power to grow. Defensively, he has some experience at third base, and if he can hold the position, it would ease the pressure on his bat to carry the profile. Beyond the tools, Gurevitch was also regarded as a strong leader during his time at San Diego, a quality the Cardinals clearly value in their draftees.
Bad: The most common concern among scouts is that Gurevitch will ultimately settle in at first base due to limited athleticism. His below-average running ability and lack of lateral quickness may push him off third, although his arm strength is sufficient to handle the hot corner if improvements are made. Another area of concern is that he did not fully maximize his raw power in college, often hitting too many line drives and ground balls. To reach his ceiling, he will need to add more loft to his swing and translate his elite exit velocities into consistent home-run production
#22 OF - Travis Honeyman
Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40+
Good: Honeyman’s hit tool has remained strong since his college days and continues to stand out at the professional level. This season he has struck out just 16.4 percent of the time while drawing walks at a 13.9 percent rate. His 81.9 percent contact rate further underscores the quality of his approach. Defensively, Honeyman has shown he can handle center field, which gives confidence that he can remain at the position as he advances through the system. He is also a plus runner, which enhances both his defensive value and his ability on the bases, even with his injury history.
Bad: The most pressing concern for Honeyman is durability. He missed nearly the entire 2024 season due to injuries and opened this year on the injured list before returning in mid-April. After performing well at Palm Beach, he earned a promotion to Peoria but was again sidelined with a leg injury that cost him several weeks from late May into early June. Another issue is his limited power production. His .078 ISO this season is well below average, particularly for a polished college bat, and he will need to unlock more impact to reach his full potential.
#21 RHP - Frank Elissalt
Fastball: 55 | Sweeper: 55 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40+
Good: Elissalt may prove to be the best pitcher the Cardinals acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, despite being the least hyped prospect in terms of rankings. His fastball is a legitimate weapon, especially given his release height, and he pairs it with both a slider and a sweeper that grade as above-average pitches. The changeup is still a work in progress but features promising metrics and has shown flashes of effectiveness when commanded.
Bad: The biggest concern with Elissalt is his lack of command. He has already walked 7 batters in 7.2 innings pitched for Peoria. Compounding that issue, after just two starts with the Cardinals organization, he was placed on the injured list. This is unfortunate, as his arsenal gives him considerable upside, and it would have been valuable to see him finish the year on a strong note. The hope is that the injury is not serious and that he can return to the mound healthy by early 2026.
