The St. Louis Cardinals' 2025 season is about to get a jolt. Top prospects like JJ Wetherholt and Quinn Mathews are nearing their MLB debuts. Is the future now?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
As the St. Louis Cardinals, sitting at a respectable 47-39, gear up to face the Pirates in Pittsburgh tonight, the conversation among the Cardinal faithful is buzzing about something more than just the next game. A tidal wave of talent is cresting in the minor leagues, with an incredible 13 of the organization's top 30 prospects projected to make their mark in St. Louis this very season. The future isn't just coming; it's pounding on the clubhouse door.
Quinn Mathews struck out 202 batters in 143⅓ innings last season across all levels.
The name on everyone's lips is JJ Wetherholt. The 2024 first-round draft pick is doing more than just living up to the hype; he's smashing it. Regarded as one of the best pure hitters in the minors, Wetherholt's combination of power and plate discipline has him on an accelerated path to the majors. While a 2025 debut was always likely, his torrid pace has sparked speculation that he could be patrolling a big-league infield as soon as this summer, providing a massive jolt to the lineup.
The most immediate impact, however, may be felt on the mound. The organization is brimming with high-ceiling arms, led by left-hander Quinn Mathews and right-hander Tink Hence. Mathews is a strikeout machine, famously fanning 202 batters last season, and is expected to graduate from prospect status this year. He's joined by Hence, another top-tier arm, and Michael McGreevy, who already flashed his potential with a 1.96 ERA in four MLB appearances last year. This trio represents a formidable wave of reinforcements for the starting rotation.
The depth doesn't stop there. Catcher Jimmy Crooks, infielder Thomas Saggese, and another lefty, Cooper Hjerpe, are all part of the 2025 arrival class. The system's strength was put on stunning display on June 20, when the Double-A Springfield Cardinals threw a no-hitter for the second consecutive year on that exact date. It's this kind of systemic success that gives new head of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, a wealth of options for building a long-term winner.
Of course, there is a game tonight. The Cardinals carry their 47-39 record into Pittsburgh for a divisional matchup with the Pirates. While the farm system provides a tantalizing glimpse of the future, the present-day club is in a fight for the NL Central crown, and every game counts. A strong showing in this series is crucial to maintain momentum as the season heads into its second half.
While tonight's game in Pittsburgh is the immediate focus, it's impossible to ignore the bigger picture. Every win in the standings is crucial, but the real excitement lies in how new head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom will leverage this incredible wave of prospects. Will we see Wetherholt in the lineup by August? Will Mathews or Hence be starting a critical game in September? The Cardinals aren't just playing for 2025; they're building a potential dynasty from within.
