Here's the Cardinals' Spring Breakout roster
John Denton
@JohnDenton555JUPITER, Fla. -- Following a successful debut in 2024, MLB¡¯s Spring Breakout is back in Florida and Arizona to showcase some of the best up-and-coming talent the game has to offer.
This time around, when Spring Breakout games are played March 13-16, 72 of the top 100 prospects in baseball -- including 20 of the top 30 -- will compete. The White Sox and Mariners will have six Top 100 prospects competing, while the Rays and Tigers have five Top 100 players scheduled to play. The White Sox, Marlins and Royals will every one of their top 10 prospects participating in the games that pit each organization¡¯s top talent against one another.
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Spring Breakout 2025.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball¡¯s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The second edition will be held from March 13-16 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. Sixteen exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization¡¯s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates the sport¡¯s budding talent.
When do the Cardinals play in Spring Breakout?
The young stars from the Cardinals will face their counterparts from the Marlins at 12:10 p.m. ET/11:10 a.m. CT on March 14 at Roger Dean Stadium. St. Louis will be considered the visiting team, while Miami will be the home squad.
How can I tune in to their game?
Which position players are expected to play?
JJ Wetherholt, the top-ranked player in the Cardinals¡¯ system and No. 23 overall, per MLB Pipeline, is scheduled to play and likely will start at shortstop. Wetherholt, the No. 7 overall pick in last year¡¯s MLB Draft, hit a three-run homer in his MLB Spring Training debut game with the Cards. He¡¯ll likely be beside third baseman Thomas Saggese (Cardinals No. 5 prospect), who made his MLB debut in 2024 and shined defensively at third and second base.
Catchers Jimmy Crooks (No. 4), Leonardo Bernal (No. 7) and Rainiel Rodriguez (No. 8) will be on the roster. St. Louis moved Willson Contreras from catcher to first not only because it has Iv¨¢n Herrera and Pedro Pag¨¦s on the big league roster but also because it has a wealth of talent at the position in the Minor Leagues. Crooks, a skilled left-handed hitter, is considered the closest to being big league-ready, but Rodriguez possesses the most power-hitting potential of any prospect in the organization.
Which pitching prospects are expected to play?
Quinn Mathews, named the 2024 Minor League Pitching Prospect of the Year after striking out 202 hitters in four levels of the Minors, is the star to watch out for here. Mathews, a 24-year-old left-hander who is the No. 2-ranked player in the Cards¡¯ system and No. 45 overall by MLB Pipeline, impressed the club early in Spring Training with his fiery competitiveness and his analytical approach to pitching. He shut out the Blue Jays over two innings and even struck out superstar slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in his one Spring Training start.
Cooper Hjerpe (No. 6), the Cards¡¯ first-round pick in 2022, struck out four batters in three innings of work in two MLB Spring Training games this year, but he also yielded two runs on four hits and three walks. Closer Zack Showalter (No. 19), who converted eight of 10 save opportunities and struck out 59 hitters in 34 1/3 innings for Single-A Palm Beach last season, is thought to have the best fastball in the Cardinals organization.
Why are certain top prospects not listed on the roster?
Some of the top prospects in the Cardinals¡¯ system, such as righthanded pitchers Tink Hence (Cardinals No. 3, MLB No. 76), Michael McGreevy (No. 11), Tekoah Roby (No. 12), Sem Robberse (No. 14) and Gordon Graceffo (No. 16) and outfielders Matt Koperniak (No. 22) and Michael Helman (No. 29), won¡¯t be competing in Spring Breakout because they are still in big league camp and trying to make the Cards¡¯ Opening Day roster. Hence, who started one of St. Louis¡¯ two Spring Breakout games in 2024, is working his way back from a chest/shoulder injury and recently endured a rocky outing against the Yankees in Spring Training play.
McGreevy made his MLB debut in 2024 and went 3-0 in four big league appearances (three starts). He beat the Rangers in his MLB debut and limited the Giants to five hits and one run over eight innings last September. He struck out two and held the Yankees scoreless over two innings in an impressive Spring Training start last week.
Still, the Cardinals will have 16 of their top 30 prospects participating in their Spring Breakout game, with four of the top five and 12 of the top 20 on hand.
What is the full roster?