Cardinals Struck Gold; Drafted St. Louis' Next Ace

"The fifth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Liam Doyle has such an exciting profile on the mound and boasts the kind of stuff that Cardinals fans have been dreaming of having in the organization for quite some time," Jacobs wrote. "Doyle's plus-plus fastball that hits over 100 MPH when he is on is easily his go-to pitch, something that will carry him to the big leagues and give him a future as a starter or reliever, surely. But Doyle's plus slider and improving cutter are what will determine whether or not Doyle can reach the heights of a front-line starter.

"At the University of Tennessee this year, Doyle posted a 3.20 REA with 15.43 K/9 in his 95.2 innings of work, and the Cardinals are betting on the upside with Doyle after making him their first top-five selection since the 1998 MLB Draft. Doyle did not get to throw much this year at the minor league level, but he did strike out six of the 15 batters he faced, allowing just three hits, one earned run on a home run, and two walks to the tune of a 2.45 ERA."

Doyle has all the makings of an ace. He has a dominant fastball with the offspeed stuff to make him even better. He hasn't pitched much in the minor leagues yet, but after an offseason of development with the Cardinals, Doyle could be primed for a big year in 2026.

There's a chance the Cardinals look to fast-track the lefty to the big leagues like the Pittsburgh Pirates did with Paul Skenes, but it's going to be dependent on how well he does early in the year next season.