Blossoming Offensively: Unheralded Cardinals Prospect Shines Early in 2025
Fresh Take:
Hey, check out the St. Louis Cardinals' rising stars, ready to shake things up in 2025! Ian Bedell, a guy with eyes on the impressive velocity boost, is one of them. Noah Mendlinger, aiming for his MLB debut, is another name to watch out for.
First baseman Josh Kross is already making waves in the Cardinals' Low-A affiliate, the Palm Beach Cardinals. According to our chat with him, he's got a goal — to make a significant impact this transitional period.
Josh Kross's Historic Batting Performance
Last week, Kross, 22, hit for the cycle against the Clearwater Threshers. A triple, a homer, a single, and a double — a rare accomplishment indeed! It all started with a triple in the first inning, scoring Nathan Church and Travis Honeyman.
He homered in the sixth inning, his fourth straight game with a home run. A three-run blast scored Jose Cordoba and Travis Honeyman. Side note: Kross has been crushing it lately!
In the bottom of the 7th inning, he nailed a single to left field, making another run for Travis Honeyman. And a double in the eighth inning sealed the deal, proving Kross's impressive night.
Drafted for Offensive Might
The Cardinals drafted Josh Kross in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft from the University of Cincinnati. While at Cincinnati, he put up impressive numbers, slashing .347/.435/.644, with 34 home runs in just two seasons. His 165 wRC+ in his sophomore year was stunning!
Drafted as an offense-first catcher, he might have to switch to first base due to his tendency to chase more balls. But, last year in Low-A Palm Beach, he flipped the script, showing improved walk and strikeout rates.
Early Season Success
In only 10 games this year, Kross has already homered four times, driven in 17 batters, and boasts a 255 wRC+. His strikeout rate has dropped to 8.3%, and his .625 ISO is phenomenal. Kross's percentile rankings in the Florida State League are insane! He's in the 100th percentile for wOBA, xwOBA, and hard-hit rate, but average in out-of-zone swing percentage and walk rate (2.8%). His .346 BABIP is off the charts for 2025!
Quick Rise through the Cardinals' System
Drafted as a polished collegiate player, Kross's time in Low-A will likely be brief. The Cardinals could push him as high as Double-A Springfield, but they might decide to be patient with him, considering the Springfield Cardinals already have Leonardo Bernal, their sixth-ranked prospect.
Expect Josh Kross to move up the organizational depth chart rapidly if he continues to outperform like he has in Palm Beach. The Cardinals' excellent catching depth seems to have a promising new addition with Josh Kross delivering in the lower minor leagues.
Catching a glimpse of the fantastic potential in Josh Kross, let's hope he keeps crushing it in the minors and stops by the major leagues soon! 😜
- Josh Kross, in the Cardinals' Low-A affiliate, Palest Beach Cardinals, has already made waves with his historic batting performance.
- Last week, Kross hit for the cycle, scoring runs with a triple, a homer, a single, and a double, marking a rare accomplishment.
- In only 10 games this year, Kross has already homered four times, driven in 17 batters, and boasts a 255 wRC+, earning him impressive percentile rankings.
- The Cardinals drafted Josh Kross in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft, eyeing his offensive might, and he could quickly rise through their system if he continues to outperform.
