RisingBaseball Star, Once Highly Revered St. Louis Cardinals Prospect, Advances to Double-A Level After Years of Patience and Persistence.
St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Joshua Baez Turns Things Around with a Savory Breakout
In the 2022 MLB season, the Cardinals' top prospect list on MLB Pipeline was jam-packed with current major leaguers - Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore, Ivan Herrera, Masyn Winn, and Juan Yepez. Hidden behind these top-tier players was a 19-year-old outfield prospect, Joshua Baez.
Drafted in the second round of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft with the 54th-overall pick, Baez, standing at a towering 6'4", was chosen above slot value, thanks to the Cardinals' trust in his physical prowess. Prior to the draft, Baez showcased his impressive raw power with exit velocities that dwarfed his contemporaries.
However, his career got off to a rocky start when he missed the first two and a half months due to a wrist injury. Concerns about his strikeout rate, stemming from his penchant for swinging heavily at pitches, proved well-founded as Baez posted strikeout rates beyond 30% across all levels from 2022 to 2024. His power production never truly took off, contributing to fears that Baez might follow the path of other floundering prospects.
Joshua Baez's Career-Changing Turnaround
But something clicked this offseason, and Baez has flipped his career around almost 180 degrees. The former high schooler, who's yet to turn 22 (birthday on June 28th), is proving that patience is crucial in the development of prep players, especially prep position players.
In his fifth year as a professional, Baez has seemingly unlocked something as a player, demonstrating impressive numbers with a .317/.404/.483 slash line, four home runs, 24 RBIs, and 32 runs scored. His impressive speed shines through as well, as he's swiped 20 bags in only 38 games. Notably, he's lowered his strikeout rate to just 21.4% while maintaining a 10.7% walk rate.
Promotion to Double-A Springfield
On Thursday, Baez was rewarded for his impressive performance with a promotion to Double-A Springfield. Making his debut that night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Baez started the game batting fifth and playing in right field. He continued his hot start with a 2-for-4 night, including two singles, two stolen bases, and a run scored. He struck out twice.
Defensively, Baez has spent the majority of his time in right field this year, but he's also made four appearances in center and one in left. Baez has three assists in 234.1 innings in right field, with no errors committed.
Rule 5 Draft Implications
Baez is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this upcoming winter, so his protection on the 40-man roster is inevitable once the season ends. Assuming he continues this impressive form, the Cardinals will undoubtedly protect him from being drafted.
Joshua Baez's transformation this year is heartening to see. The former top outfield prospect has gone through a tough time in professional baseball, but his recent breakthrough suggests he has figured something out. As the minor league season heats up, this developing power-speed duo is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Insights:- Baez recently had a breakout season in a career that previously faced setbacks such as a wrist injury and high strikeout rates.- Despite his struggles in the past, Baez has managed to unlock something within him, resulting in impressive performance stats and earning a promotion to Double-A.
Sources:1. MLB.com2. MLB Pipeline3. Baseball America4. The Athletic
- Joshua Baez, the Cardinals' once-struggling outfield prospect, is now turning heads with his impressive performance during the 2025 MLB season, showcasing a potent power-speed duo on the diamond.
- As the Cardinals' top prospect, Jordan Walker, and others climbing the MLB ranks, Baez's recent breakthrough in baseball has been a welcome surprise, reinforcing the importance of patience in the development of young players, especially those drafted from high school.
