Latest predictions link Cardinals to SEC catcher with rising power
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Latest predictions link Cardinals to SEC catcher with rising power originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Not much was expected from the St. Louis Cardinals this season. They were pressing into their rebuild, and many analysts picked them to finish last in the National League Central.
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However, nobody told the players they were supposed to be bad this year. They have been one of the biggest surprises this season, holding a 32-28 record, which puts them in third place in the division.
But while the Cardinals are doing well, it's never too early to start thinking about the future. And with high school and college seasons wrapping up, we are inching closer and closer to the 2026 MLB Draft.
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Latest predictions link Cardinals to SEC catcher with rising power
The Cardinals will be drafting in a pretty solid spot later this summer. They have been given the No. 13 pick, and there will be plenty of talent to choose from there.
Last year, they chose University of Tennessee pitcher Liam Doyle. They have stuck with college talent with their last five first-round picks, and that trend could continue as Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter links them to Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick with pick No. 13.
"Helfrick is the best defensive catcher in the 2026 class, and his improved offensive game might be enough for him to come off the board inside the top 10. He posted a .979 OPS with 18 home runs this spring while also raising his walk rate from 13.6 to 19.1 percent. There are a lot of similarities between him and Shea Langeliers at the same point in his development."
There's certainly a chance that Helfrick is gone before the Cardinals get on the clock, but if he's not, this could be a great pick. He is rock solid behind the plate, and his offensive game has improved by quite a bit this season.