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2016 MLB Draft: Profiling 15 Prospects Who Could be First-Round Candidates for the St. Louis Cardinals

By Patrick Karraker

Jun 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers catcher Matt Thaiss (21) looks at his first inning home run in the first inning against the Florida Gators in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers catcher Matt Thaiss (21) looks at his first inning home run in the first inning against the Florida Gators in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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John Mozeliak St. Louis Cardinals
Oct 8, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak talks with the media during NLDS workout day prior to game one of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

In rookie scouting director Randy Flores’s first MLB Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals own three first-round picks at 23, 33, and 34. Who might they take on Thursday?

After an unfortunate legal scandal last summer led to the untimely firing of scouting director Chris Correa, considered a rising star in personnel circles, the St. Louis Cardinals were forced to make a quick change atop their scouting department and hired former lefty specialist Randy Flores as Correa’s replacement. While Flores definitely is analytically-inclined, he may have a slightly more traditional approach to the draft than that of his predecessor, who was hired away from the psychology doctorate program at the University of Michigan. In addition to his big-league playing experience, Flores has worked as an assistant coach at USC and developed a startup to provide a database of high-quality video of amateur players to professional scouts, so he definitely has a well-developed understanding of the game’s intricacies.

With Flores now at the helm, it should be interesting to see if the Cardinals approach the first round any differently than they have in recent years. While the Cardinals’ two most highly-publicized recently selections have probably been college starters Michael Wacha and Marco Gonzales, both of whom reached the majors roughly a year after being selected, the organization has also shown a preference in recent years for high-upside high-schoolers like Jack Flaherty, Rob Kaminsky, Nick Plummer, and Jake Woodford. After years of churning out prospect after prospect, the Cardinals have now graduated most of their elite prospects to the major-league level, and it’s about time that they restock their system. With two extra picks (33 and 34) that were gained when the Chicago Cubs signed John Lackey and Jason Heyward, both of whom were given qualifying offers from the Cardinals, the organization has a great opportunity to accumulate some quality depth.

It’s easy to see them mixing and matching between high-schoolers and collegiate players with their three picks, but with a rotation that’s locked in contractually for the long term, with guys like Alex Reyes and Luke Weaver already in the upper minors, the Cardinals can definitely afford to take the prep route if they want to develop some more projectable pitchers.

On the position player side, however, they’re likely going to be faced with replacing players such as Yadier Molina, Jhonny Peralta, and Matt Holliday over the next few years, and 30-year-old Matt Carpenter will have to start dealing with the aging process sooner or later. Since the organization is largely devoid of intriguing position player prospects, particularly in the infield and behind the plate, it might be better to go the collegiate route around the diamond.

There are plenty of possibilities for the Cardinals’ three selections, so we profiled 15 different players who might be good fits for the Redbirds in Thursday’s first round:

Next: T.J. Zeuch, RHP

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