The St. Louis Cardinals have started to focus on their future recently. The organization has emphasized scouting, drafting, and developing its younger players and has built the best farm system it possibly can.
They currently have some exciting prospects on the horizon, but none are bigger than the club’s top prospect, JJ Wetherholt. The slugger was a standout player for the University of West Virginia, playing three seasons there and being drafted with the seventh overall pick in 2024.
While we are just over a month away from completing last year’s draft, it is never too early to speculate on next year’s picks. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter put together an early mock draft for 2026 and predicted the Cardinals will take another college standout shortstop, Tyler Bell.
Tyler Bell could be versatile for the Cardinals
One thing that fans will instantly notice is that Tyler Bell is a shortop, just like JJ Wetherholt is. However, shortstop is not the only position that Bell can play. He could potentially play multiple infield positions and could also take some reps in the outfield if needed.
He also has a great bat and is fast enough to scare defenses with his speed on the basepaths. Bell played some of the best competition in all of college baseball, playing for an SEC team and also suited up for the Collegiate National Team, so he is used to elite competition.
While some fans may want to see another position drafted, taking Bell in the middle of the first round could make for a great addition to the organization.
