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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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Matt Thaiss Virginia
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 /

Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia

While he’s had a career-best offensive season thus far in 2016, the jury is still out on whether catching prospect Carson Kelly is talented enough with the bat to be an everyday starter in the bigs and become the heir apparent to Yadier Molina. Jim Callis mentioned him as a possibility for one of the Cards’ selections at the end of the first round. Thus, the Cardinals would probably be wise to add to their stable of catching prospects (which, with all due respect to the organization’s other catchers, is basically Kelly plus a bunch of big-league longshots) in this year’s draft.

In some ways, Thaiss is Kelly’s total opposite, as he’s a lefty hitter who many consider to have a big-league quality bat, but there are questions about whether he can stay behind the plate long-term. The 5-foot-11, 197-pounder isn’t really built to play first base, either, so if the Cardinals took him, it would be important to nurture his skills behind the plate. The Cardinals haven’t taken a college catcher before the seventh round since selecting Cody Stanley in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, so the selection of Thaiss would represent a change in philosophy under Randy Flores. Jim Callis has him mocked to the Cardinals at pick 34 in the first round.

Next: Will Craig, 3B/1B

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