Potential Cardinals Prospect Emerges as Contender for First Base Role Could Be Future Solution
The Cardinals'** 2024 Draft Picks: A Sizzling Start to the 2025 Season
Every now and then, the baseball world gets a glimpse of a fresh, new talent, and it seems that the St. Louis Cardinals are sitting on a stash of such diamonds. This season, a few draft picks are making waves and turning heads - from the first round pick, JJ Wetherholt, tearing it up in Double-A, to the fourth-round sensation, Ryan Campos, flaunting his elite plate discipline in High-A, and ninth-round dynamo, Cade McGee, raking in the accolades for his performances in Low-A.
But what's got the Cardinals Nation buzzing like never before? It's none other than Josh Kross, the sixth-round pick that's been absolutely scorching the competition. The 22-year-old has been splitting his time between catcher and first base, and boy, has he been shining.
Kross: The Future First Baseman of the Cardinals?
Facing stiff competition from four catching prospects in the team's top 30 prospects rankings, could Kross become the Cardinals' first baseman of the future?
Speaking to Redbird Rants, Kross attributed his hot start to the season to the team's overall performance, with their pitchers making their pitches, the defense getting outs, and his personal ability to connect with the ball and avoid chasing pitchers' balls.
"What feels awesome," Kross said, "is winning a Player of the Week award. But it's in the past now, and I'm focusing on another one. I want to play the best baseball I can for the Palm Beach Cardinals and wherever I end up at the end of the year is where I end up."
The Cincinnati product has been downright unstoppable, crushing 6 home runs, driving in 29 RBIs, and slamming 6 doubles and 2 triples while maintaining a staggering 1.048 OPS across 19 games. In fact, that week of game action also saw him hit for the cycle.
Prelude to Stardom
"It feels awesome to win a Player of the Week award," Kross said, "but it's back to work the next day." And work he does, with a determined focus on earning another Player of the Week award and leading the Palm Beach Cardinals to another championship.
Although a promotion to High-A Peoria might come sooner than later given his scorching production, Kross approaches this season with his eyes on the long haul, realizing the importance of keeping his head on his shoulders, supporting his teammates, and grinding every day.
With offseason training behind him, Kross believes he's honed his strength and consistency, ready to bring the thunder back to the plate during his first full season in professional baseball. Drafted in the sixth round after just one year in the Cincinnati college system, Kross's rapid rise has baseball fans excited about what the future may hold for this young talent. Will he secure his spot as the Cardinals' first baseman of the future? Time will tell, but one thing's for sure - it'll be a thrilling ride watching him climb the ladder in professional baseball.
In the midst of a stellar start to the 2025 season, Josh Kross, the sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, is making heads turn with his impressive performance in the Minor Leagues. Reminiscent of a MLB rookie sensation, Kross is racking up accolades in the lower leagues, including a Player of the Week award, and has already shown promise for a potential future in the Cardinals' first base.
