Back on the clock after they had one pick on the first day of the MLB draft, the Cardinals used their eight picks on Monday to draft eight college-level players in rounds 3-10. They took four pitches, two catchers, an infielder and an outfielder.
After they used their first-round pick (seventh overall) on Sunday to select West Virginia University infielder JJ Westerholt, the Cardinals began the third round by taking Brian Holiday, a right-handed pitcher out of Oklahoma State University whom they “wanted to make sure that we did not miss the chance to add†to their organization.
Holiday, 21, spent one season pitching for OSU after he pitched at the junior college level in 2022 and 2023. The right-hander helped lead Central Florida JC to a NJCAA national championship win in 2023 and was named the JUCO World Series most outstanding pitcher. He led JUCO pitchers nationally in strikeouts, with 141 in 81 innings. After transferring to Oklahoma State, he led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts (128 in 113 innings) and posted a 2.95 ERA with a 7-3 record.
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“You look at the body of work of what he did, from transferring from a junior college to Oklahoma State,†Cardinals assistant general manager and scouting director Randy Flores said in a Zoom call. “The workload he had. The K rate he had. And the jump he did (in) progressing. We were really intrigued by the type of athlete that he was, by the competitor that he was and even the belief that his better days are still ahead.â€
After the Cardinals selected Arizona State catcher Ryan Campos (fourth round), Oklahoma lefty Braden Davis (fifth round) and University of Cincinnati catcher Josh Kross (sixth round), they found themselves in spots to snag a pair of righties they could “bet on.â€
Vanderbilt right-hander Andrew Dutkanych IV was taken by the Cards in the seventh round, and Notre Dame lefty Jack Findlay was taken in the eighth round.
Both Dutkanych and Findlay each are coming off Tommy John surgery.
Coming out of the preps scene in 2022, Dutkanych, 20, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 35 draft prospect before he opted for the college route that would give him the option to be a draft-eligible sophomore this year. Dutkanych, who was named Mr. Indiana Baseball in 2022 after being a standout at Brebeuf Jesuit Prep, was limited to 6â…“ innings as a freshman because of a hamstring injury, then threw 10â…” innings in his sophomore season before it was cut short in mid-March because of elbow surgery.
“When you look and then you go to college and then you have the bad, unfortunate luck of having Tommy John — we were able to come to an agreement that could work, there’s a chance at something that, I think in time, could be very rewarding,†Flores said.
Between the two righties, Findlay, 21, is further along with his rehab process than Dutkanych, Flores said. Flores said Cardinals scouts were able to see Findlay throw a bullpen ahead of the draft combine last June.
Before injury cut his 2023 season short and sidelined him for all of 2024, Findlay collected 108 strikeouts in 90 innings as a starter and reliever for the Fighting Irish. The left-hander fanned 29.3% of the batters he faced at the college level and posted a 2.90 ERA across the two campaigns.
At that spot in the draft, when the player pool begins to lessen, Flores said the Cardinals were eyeing arms with “starter traits.†The Cardinals felt Dutkanych and Findlay provided “value†at that point because of who they project to be when healthy.
“You look at where we were in the draft in the seventh and eighth round, you’re looking for shots on goal for player improvement,†Flores said. “You’re looking for strength adds. You’re looking for health. You’re looking for coaching that help jumps in player performance. And both those picks had reasons for our group to go ahead and make that bet and bet on these young men getting healthy and getting back to who they were before their injuries.â€
The Cardinals wrapped up Day 2 by selecting Cade McGee, a third baseman out of Texas Tech, in the ninth round and Bryce Madron, an outfielder from the University of Oklahoma, in the 10th round.
The draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
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Francis Howell shortstop Tytus Cissell was drafted in the fourth round (132nd overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cissell, a switch-hitter who is listed at 6 feet 2, was a first-team selection on the this year’s Post-Dispatch All-Metro team. He is committed to Mizzou.
Collinsville High School right-hander and Mizzou commitment Ethan Bagwell was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the sixth round (191st overall).
Four rounds later, the Braves drafted Maryville University left-hander Jacob Kroeger, who pitched in five different seasons for the Saints and attended high school in Palmyra, Missouri.