Monday's Prospect Stock Market Report

 
Monday's Prospect Stock Market Report
On Deck — Tracking the Future of the Cardinals
March 2, 2026

The second Prospect Stock Market Report of 2026 arrives with the first real game action of the spring beginning to shape early evaluations. Grapefruit League at-bats and innings are limited in meaning, but they offer a glimpse — not of finished products — but of progression.

For some, the arrow is pointing up. For others, timelines have shifted. And for a few, the industry’s steady confidence remains unchanged.

This is not about headlines. It is about trajectory.

STOCK RISING 📈

JJ Wetherholt, (2B/3B/DH), 23, - MLB

The Cardinals Top Prospect, JJ Wetherholt is competing for the starting second base role in the St. Louis Cardinals Big League camp. Following the trades of veterans like Brendan Donovan, he is widely projected to be the Opening Day starter. 

Wetherholt's first home run this spring came on February 27, 2026, with a 422-foot solo home run with a 105.4 mph exit velocity against New York Mets closer Devin Williams.

Through his first few games, Wetherhold has displayed elite patience, drawing four walks in just 10 plate appearances for a .500 on-base percentage.

Defensively he is getting reps at both second and third base, while he has primarily been stationed at second base or DH during camp drills and early Grapefruit action to keep his bat in the lineup and take a little pressure off of him after a couple of defensive miscues.

Wetherholt is a non-roster invitee, but I expect him to be added to the 40-man roster and starting the regular season at second base, for the Cardinals on opening day.

 
Rainiel Rodriguez (C), 19 - High-A

Rodriguez wasted no time introducing himself to the major league stage. In his first Grapefruit League at-bat on February 22, he scorched a 106.7 mph double down the left-field line against Houston. The swing was loud, but just as encouraging was the composure. He later worked a walk and reached on an error, remaining in the game through the seventh inning as a designated hitter.

The power is real. The approach may be ahead of schedule.

 
Joshua Baez (OF),  22 - Double-A

Few prospects in the system have experienced a more dramatic recalibration over the past year. Mechanical adjustments — most notably a taller stance — paired with improved pitch recognition have unlocked his 70-grade raw power with greater consistency.

The industry has taken notice. Once unranked on several lists, Baez now sits as the No. 4 prospect in the system according to Baseball America and No. 87 overall via MLB Pipeline. His addition to the 40-man roster this offseason signals organizational belief. The tools were always present. Now the production is beginning to follow.

 
Liam Doyle (LHP),  21 - Double-A

Doyle’s buildup has been deliberate. Kept in minor league camp to structure his first full professional season properly, he has nonetheless generated considerable internal buzz during big-league bullpen sessions.

The fastball quality and mound presence have drawn attention from staff. No rush. No overexposure. Just steady acceleration beneath the surface.

 
Leonardo Bernal (C),  21 - Double-A

Bernal has already appeared in early Grapefruit League action and opened with a .500 on-base percentage in his initial plate appearances. It’s a small sample, but it reinforces what evaluators have long believed: his offensive maturity continues to trend forward.

In a system rich with catching depth, he remains firmly in the conversation.

 
HOLDING

Jimmy Crooks (C),  24 - MLB

Crooks remains one of the organization’s most stable prospect assets. Consistently ranked among the system’s Top 5 and viewed as a near-term contributor, there is no dramatic swing in evaluation this spring.

Catchers develop in layers. The organization continues to invest in his timeline, and the industry’s confidence has not wavered.

 
STOCK FALLING 📉

Tekoah Roby (RHP), 24 - Triple A Memphis

Promoted to Memphis in June 2025, where he initially struggled before settling in to allow just two earned runs over his final 21 innings.

Roby’s momentum stalled last July with a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery. His development clock is paused, and a return likely extends into late 2026 or 2027.

Currently ranked as the Cardinals' #11 prospect as of February 2026.

This is delay, not derailment. But innings matter — and they will be missed.

 
Chase Davis (OF), 24 - Triple A Memphis

Once positioned near the Top 10 in the system entering 2025, Davis slid during the season and has yet to fully reestablish upward momentum. The questions center on offensive consistency and approach refinement.

Davis strength is his elite raw power (60 grade), his plus arm strength (60-70 grade), and strong on-base skills.

There are ongoing concerns regarding his contact rate and "swing-and-miss" issues against breaking pitches and offspeed offerings.

As of March 2026, he is a non-roster invitee to the Cardinals' Major League spring training.

He played the entire 2025 campaign at Double-A Springfield, where I don't think he has anything left to prove and expect him to start the season at Triple-A Memphis.

The physical ability remains. The adjustment phase continues.

 
Overall, the system enters 2026 stronger than it stood a year ago. There is more upper-level depth, clearer tiers among impact prospects, and legitimate national recognition attached to several names. The Cardinals are not simply collecting talent — they are clarifying it.

Development is not linear. It is layered. And right now, the layers are stacking in the right direction.

Editor’s Note: Player development is not a day-trading exercise. Evaluations are layered over time. This weekly report simply reflects observable momentum — who is trending forward, holding steady, or working through adjustments.