The St. Louis Cardinals have been quietly working to strengthen their farm system and build for the future. As a result, competing has taken a backseat, at least for the time being. This season, they sit at 66-66 and are 5 1/2 games behind the third National League wild card spot.
Still, the Cardinals are beginning to get a clearer picture of what their future could look like and which players might make up their core over the next several years. JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker have already established themselves as potential building blocks, but there are still plenty of questions to answer.
On Sunday, infield prospect Jesus Baez made a strong case for himself by hitting four home runs across a doubleheader, including one in the first game and three in the second. Baez has the versatility to play multiple infield positions. Since trading Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals have struggled to find a player who can firmly establish himself at third base. Baez could potentially provide some much-needed clarity there.
St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Could Be the Answer at Third Base
Baez has already launched 20 home runs in just 43 games with Double-A Springfield, an encouraging development for the Cardinals. St. Louis acquired him at last year’s trade deadline as part of the deal that sent All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets.
Baez opened the 2026 season with Class-A Peoria before earning his promotion to Springfield. If he continues progressing, a move to Triple-A Memphis could come soon, putting him just one step away from the major leagues.
The Cardinals have used several players at third base this season, with Nolan Gorman, Jose Fermin and Blaze Jordan serving as the primary options. However, none of the three has managed to establish himself as the long-term solution.
Baez could ultimately be that answer. He may still be a few years away from reaching the majors, and Chaim Bloom and Oli Marmol will likely be cautious about rushing him to St. Louis, especially since accelerating a young player’s development often comes with risks.
If Baez continues displaying this kind of power and earns a promotion to Triple-A in the near future, though, he could potentially enter the Cardinals’ plans at third base as early as the 2027 season. St. Louis is still likely a few years away from becoming a legitimate contender, so the organization doesn’t need to force the issue. For now, the priority is determining what it has in its young players, and Baez could prove to be a hidden gem from last season’s Helsley trade.
Chaim Bloom’s Vision Coming to Life for St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals may still be a couple of years away from contention, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t made progress. In fact, they have accomplished quite a bit in a relatively short period.
The young players Bloom has brought into the organization are beginning to show signs of promise, and it may not be long before he has a much clearer understanding of what the future in St. Louis will look like and where each player fits into the plan.