The excitement that St. Louis Cardinals supporters were feeling after their unexpected first-round selection of Liam Doyle last night should be heightened by the positive feedback the team is receiving for its third pick of the evening, who also happens to be Doyle’s teammate.
MLB Network dubbed their Competitive Balance B selection, right-handed pitcher Tanner Franklin, the potential steal of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Cardinals, to our surprise, broke with some previous trends when it came to their Sunday night draft selections, choosing to make high upside, high velocity pitchers available.
Cardinals’ Competitive Balance B pick, Tanner Franklin, lauded as the potential steal of the 2025 MLB Draft
Tanner Franklin, taken 72nd overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, is an exciting young pitcher from the University of Tennessee with a powerful arm that immediately grabs attention. His fastball is the highlight—it’s been clocked as high as 102 mph and has a sharp cutting movement that makes it incredibly tough for hitters to make contact. That pitch alone makes him a serious threat on the mound. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he has the physical tools teams love, and while he was used strictly as a reliever during his time with the Volunteers this past season, the St. Louis Cardinals are expected to explore whether he could be effective in a starting role.
It’s not uncommon for MLB teams to take talented college relievers especially those from elite programs like Tennessee and try to transition them into starting pitchers. Franklin’s fastball is clearly his best weapon, but he’s not a one-trick pony. He also features a slider and a cutter, both considered solid pitches, while his curveball and command still need some polish. The Cardinals will likely spend the rest of the year and the upcoming offseason helping him develop those secondary pitches and work on his control, with the hope that he’ll be ready to make his pro debut sometime in 2026.
This pick also puts a spotlight on the Cardinals’ new front office leadership, particularly Chaim Bloom, who is expected to become the team’s next president of baseball operations. Known for a strong focus on player development, Bloom’s approach will be key in shaping Franklin’s future. Also playing a major role is Rob Cerfolio, the team’s new assistant GM overseeing player development, who joined the organization from the Cleveland Guardians. Cerfolio has already emphasized how much effort they’re putting into better communication throughout the system, building detailed development plans for prospects, and helping players tap into their unique strengths. All of those things will be crucial as they work to turn Franklin’s raw talent into big-league results.
If you’re interested in hearing more about how the Cardinals are approaching player development under their new regime, check out the recent episode of Dealin’ the Cards featuring a conversation with Cerfolio.
One of the notable additions to the Cardinals’ front office this offseason was Matt Pierpont, who is now serving as the team’s director of pitching. He joined St. Louis after working with the Seattle Mariners an organization that has gained a strong reputation in recent years for developing quality Major League starting pitchers. While hiring someone with that kind of background doesn’t automatically mean the Cardinals will start producing aces overnight, it does show that they’re building the right foundation. The people, ideas, and systems are being put in place to help them turn talented pitchers like Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin into long-term success stories.
Pierpont’s track record gives some encouraging perspective. Take Bryan Woo, for example a pitcher the Mariners selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. Woo didn’t have eye-popping stats in college, but Seattle saw something in his raw tools, particularly his fastball, and believed they could shape him into a strong starter. That belief paid off Woo became an All-Star, proving that good scouting and development can unlock big-time potential, even in later-round picks.
Now, that doesn’t mean Doyle or Franklin are guaranteed to follow the same path. It’s far too early to make any bold predictions about either of them becoming front-line starters in the big leagues. But the Cardinals clearly took some high-upside swings in this draft arms that could become something special if things go right. And that gives fans a reason to be excited.
If you want more in-depth thoughts on the Cardinals’ draft class, you can check out the four-hour livestream we hosted on the Dealin’ the Cards channel. We broke down all four of their picks from last night’s draft and had several guest experts join us to share insights on both the MLB Draft and the Cardinals’ farm system.
And don’t worry we’re not done yet. Our full coverage of the 2025 MLB Draft will continue all week long, so stay tuned to the site for updates, analysis, and behind-the-scenes looks at how this exciting class is shaping up.