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Cardinals Draft Outfielders Early
Many fans will be upset that the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t use their first draft pick on a pitcher. That’s understandable given their current situation on the major league roster. However, they did stock up on some quality arms in later rounds. In all reality, none of the picks are going to make an impact on the big league roster for another couple of years. It’s not the NFL or NBA, where players are expected to make an immediate impact.
The team’s selection of more outfielders has been frustrating for many fans. However, it is likely in preparation for upcoming trades. Hopefully, they will use the surplus to obtain some major league ready pitching.
It’s also worth noting that the Cardinals do have some stellar pitching prospects in the system already. Tink Hence , Gordon Graceffo, Cooper Hjerpe and Michael McGreevy are all getting close. There are probably five or six more that are trending in the right direction as well. All of them could make an impact in the next couple of years. The MLB draft isn’t always about drafting what the major league team needs. It’s getting the best players available and stocking the farm system.
Cardinals Draft Potential Impact Bat With First Pick
The St. Louis Cardinals scored big in the first round of the draft this year. They used the 21st pick to select Chase Davis, an outfielder from the University of Arizona.
He was considered by many experts to have one of the best bats in the draft. After not playing much early in his collegiate career, Davis broke out in a big way his junior year. He tied for the Pac-12 lead with 21 home runs and totaled 39 for his career, third most in school history. He led the Wildcats in batting average (.362), on-base percentage (.489) and slugging percentage (.742) while driving in 74 runs and scoring 71. His OPS of 1.231 ranked 17th nationally.
Davis hits from the left side of the plate and projects as a corner outfielder. He is most often compared to Colorado Rockies star Carlos Gonzalez. Their swings are nearly identical. Undoubtedly, fans would be pleased if he eventually put up those types of numbers.
Cardinals Connections
Davis already has connections with the organization. The Cardinals’ scouting department has been following him since high school. He was obviously a well-known commodity within the organization. Furthermore, he has worked out with Dylan Carlson in the off-season. They are from the same area, and Davis attended Carlson’s high school rival. He is also friends with top prospects, Jordan Walker and Maysin Winn after playing with them at the amateur level.
The Future is Bright
Davis has the potential to become an integral part of the team’s core of the future. He has the potential to be an impact left-handed bat with good defense in the outfield. Cardinal fans should be excited about this draft pick and the future that Scouting Director Randy Flores is building.
