Previewing next top prospects for Cardinals by reviewing annual Post-Dispatch 12 rankings

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Before plunging into the Hot Stove season and the arrival of the GM Meetings, a look at the performances this past season by the top 12 prospects in the Cardinals system, as ranked in the annual Post-Dispatch Dozen. For several years now, baseball writer Daniel Guerrero has ranked the top 12 prospects in the Cardinals organization, but what sets this ranking apart is the eligibility (players cannot have a moment in the majors) and rubric. Each players is considered through the four Ps of Prospects: proximity to majors, overall potential, how prominent and demanding is his position, and, of course, production or performance.

Guerrero joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to explain the process and discuss the 2025 PD 12.

Read even more on his rankings and updates on each player here.

Only one of the 12, catcher Jimmy Crooks, graduated to the majors, leaving 11 incumbents for the 2026 rankings, but there will be some changes to the rankings going into the coming season, as Guerrero and host Derrick Goold discuss. Just not at the No. 1 spot with ascending talent JJ Wetherholt. Though, No. 2 is up for grabs with recent first-round pick Liam Doyle set to throw his fastball into the mix. Also, Guerrero scoops the host on a strong sleeper pick for the 2026 PD 12.

In its 13th season as one of the first and most widely heard podcasts on baseball and the Cardinals, the Best Podcast in Baseball has reached a new season-high with 30 episodes. Each episode is sponsored weekly by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and lead baseball writer Derrick Goold.