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St. Louis Cardinals: 10 Most Valuable Draft Picks Since the Turn of the Century

By Patrick Karraker

May 10, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) is greeted after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) is greeted after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Adams St. Louis Cardinals
May 25, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (32) in action against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. The Cubs won the game 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Matt Adams, Round 23, 2009

Cardinals career (2012-present): 387 games, 1,299 plate appearances, .282/.323/.463 slash line, 46 homers, 184 RBI, 4.6 rWAR

Adams’ struggles against lefthanded pitchers and overall troubles during 2015 have clouded many Cardinals fans’ opinions of the hefty slugger, but a quick look at Adams’ career statistics–as well as the career-best .333/.386/.583 slash line that Adams is currently putting together in 2016–indicate that he’s quite a valuable hitter, especially considering that the Cardinals were able to get him out of Slippery Rock University in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft.

Adams has been a strong postseason contributor as well, homering and hitting .316 during the 2013 NLDS, then hitting three homers in the 2014 postseason, including a three-run jack off of Clayton Kershaw to give the Cardinals the win in a decisive Game 4 of the NLDS. With the way he’s hitting right now, it looks like Adams has the ability to serve as the Cardinals’ starting first baseman for years to come if he stays healthy. The organization should definitely consider it a victory that they were able to get a 25th-rounder to the majors in just his third full professional season, and that he’s been a key contributor to the lineup for several seasons now.

Next: 6. Kevin Siegrist

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