DALLAS -- The Cardinals¡¯ ¡°reset¡± for the 2025 season, which is expected to center around a young core and Minor League player development, got a much-needed boost Tuesday with an odds-defying pick coming out of the MLB Draft Lottery.

Saddled with the 13th-best odds for the top spot in the Draft, the Cardinals surged to the No. 5 pick for the 2025 MLB Draft. Not only will it be the franchise¡¯s highest selection since 1998, when they took J.D. Drew at No. 5, it will be the first time in franchise history that they have had consecutive top 10 selections. The Cardinals nabbed highly touted infielder J.J. Wetherholt with the No. 7 pick last July, and now they will likely have a shot at another transformational selection.

¡°We had a winning season last year, and then to end up with a top-five pick, it¡¯s pretty cool,¡± Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said, referring to his club¡¯s 83-79 record in 2024. ¡°Obviously, you want to take advantage of it. Last year, we were seventh overall and it was the first time we were a single-digit team in years. Ultimately, that¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to do -- build up the farm system. So, drafting well and having the opportunity to draft players you normally wouldn¡¯t is exciting.¡±

Washington, which entered the day with the fourth-best odds of drawing the No. 1 pick, nabbed the top spot. Even that accomplishment by the Nationals had a Cardinals feel to it as former St. Louis slugger Matt Adams represented Washington on the podium. Adams, a St. Louis resident who is looking to get into coaching at the MLB level, retired as a Cardinal on Sept. 18. The Nats, Angels, Mariners and Rockies will pick ahead of the Cardinals in the top four spots.

The Cards are eager to get to work on culling down what high school or college players might be available with the No. 5 pick next July. Mozeliak said he couldn¡¯t think of a better way to jump-start the club¡¯s shifted focus to player development than supplementing the system with a second straight top-seven pick.

¡°It¡¯s ideal and it¡¯s getting chances to pick a player you normally wouldn¡¯t, and over the last 25 years, we haven¡¯t,¡± Mozeliak said. ¡°Hopefully, we can leverage that and really add talent. At fifth overall, you¡¯ll definitely get a good player.¡±