After hinting at the news with some Instagram photos from Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals have officially signed their top draft pick, left-handed pitcher. The deal includes a \$7.25 million signing bonus—roughly \$900,000 below the slot value of \$8.13 million for the No. 5 overall selection. This strategic signing gives the Cardinals added flexibility with their draft pool, potentially allowing them to be more aggressive with other picks in their class.
Selected with the fifth overall pick, top star arrives in St. Louis with an impressive résumé. In his lone season at Tennessee, he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year after racking up a school-record 164 strikeouts in just 95⅔ innings. He led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (15.43) and posted a stellar 0.99 WHIP. His fastball regularly touches 96–99 mph, complemented by a devastating splitter and slider that generate swings and misses from both left- and right-handed hitters. Keith Law ranked Doyle as the No. 2 overall prospect in the draft, describing his fastball as “invisible” and praising his sharp command and aggressive approach. To be honest, it was surprising to see him still available when the Cardinals picked at No. 5.
By signing Doyle for \$7.25 million—well below the \$8.13 million slot value—the Cardinals have created bonus pool flexibility. This opens the door for them to go over slot on other picks, such as No. 55 overall selection Ryan Mitchell, a Georgia Tech commit, or other high-upside prep players who might be difficult to sign away from college.
Doyle is expected to begin his pro career at either High-A or Double-A, depending on how aggressively the Cardinals choose to test his elite swing-and-miss arsenal. With his fiery demeanor on the mound, “all gas, no brakes” mentality, and downright filthy pitch mix, Doyle has all the makings of a fan favorite in short order.