In the first two rounds, it is usually a bit of a roll of the dice in what the Cardinals might do, but in the third round, it seems they like to go the collegiate route, having taken three college pitchers and two college outfielders in their last five drafts...That of course doesn't mean they will go college, but it means they probably have a stronger chance of a bias towards a collegiate player than they did in the first two rounds...
Who kind of fits the profiles of whom the Cardinals might draft in the third round?
HS Players (doesn't seem like a good chance, but...)
- Nick Decker - a prep outfielder the Cardinals have been linked to, he is probably more of a second round target than third round. Decker is known for power, and he is a left-handed bat - two things sorely missing in the Cardinals system
- Garrett Wade - LHP - now, if the Cardinals were to go the prep route at 101, my money would be on Garret Wade. A left-handed pitcher (also lacking in depth in the Cardinals system). He has a plus fastball and a plus slider. The kind of a player the Cardinals might really covet depending on who they've drafted in the preceding rounds
- Simeon Woods Richardson - RHP - the magic words the Cardinals look for in terms of pitchers, "athletic." A plus curveball helps as well...
- Dominic Pipkin - RHP - He's hit 96 on the gun, and will probably hit a few MPH higher as he fills out, so there is another athletic pitcher the Cardinals could consider...
- Blaze Alexander - SS - He has a rifle arm, and the fall back is they could put him on the mound if his hit tool never develops. Now, where have we heard of the Cardinals doing that before???
College Players (much, much more likely)
- Mitchel Kilkenny - RHP - He was one of my favorite college pitchers last year, along with Blaine Knight. Had a 3.00 ERA, 8.4 K/9 and 1.12 WHIP this year
- Michael Plassmeyer - LHP - This would fill an area of low depth in the Cardinals system. If they miss out on Ryan Weathers, Kris Bubic and Konnor Pilkington, they may find a decent LHP in the third round. Probably ahead where most would consider drafting him, but he put up a 3.05 ERA, 10.2 K/9 and 1.13 WHIP this year...
- Brice Montes de Oca - RHP - Plassmeyer's teammate is another person I can see the Cardinals taking in the third round. Guy throws 100 mph. Read about how LSU prepared for him early in the season, it was quite funny. Can you imagine facing Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez as your starters, then dealing with a bullpen of Jordan Hicks and Brice Montes de Oca? They just can't play anywhere there is a drought, because those guys play with fire!!!
- Mystery Man - LHP - I will give you some clues. He threw 144 K's last year in 119 innings. He threw 4 innings this year before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John. Sounds like a possible first round talent the Cardinals would love to get in the third round...
- Josh Stowers - CF - hit .341/.470/.572 and stole 33 bases in 40 attempts. The guy likes to run. The Cardinals seem to like center fielders, why not take a Louisville Cardinal to become a St. Louis Cardinal?
