ESPN's C grade for Cardinals undersells a promising young core
The short version
- ESPN's David Schoenfield gave the Cardinals a C for the 2026 regular season.
- Jordan Walker's breakout and Burleson's MLB-leading RBI total highlight the young core.
- Burleson would be the first Cardinal to lead MLB in RBIs since Joe Torre in 1971.
- St. Louis used the second-youngest position players in Chaim Bloom's first year.
- Rotation and bullpen upgrades remain the priority with payroll room heading into 2027.
David Schoenfield's average mark for St. Louis comes with strong signs from Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and JJ Wetherholt.
ESPN's David Schoenfield handed St. Louis a C in his grades for all 30 MLB clubs this regular season. The middling mark reflected a year in which the Cardinals' youth movement did not produce a standout record, yet the season did clarify which young players could anchor the next contender.
Jordan Walker's emergence may be the season's biggest takeaway for the front office. Rather than projecting what he might become, St. Louis can now plan around what he has already demonstrated, reshaping its approach to 2027.
Alec Burleson has driven in runs from the heart of the order and, per Schoenfield, sits atop the majors in RBIs with games remaining. If he holds that spot, he would be the first Cardinal to lead MLB in RBIs since Joe Torre in 1971. JJ Wetherholt, paired with Masyn Winn, forms a young infield duo Schoenfield suggested could feature two Gold Glove winners.
ESPN also noted the Cardinals rolled out the majors' second-youngest position-player group in Chaim Bloom's first season running baseball operations. Leo Bernal and Joshua Baez reached the majors this year, with Rainiel Rodriguez, Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin among the prospects behind them.
Pitching remains the gap. St. Louis still needs to upgrade its rotation and bullpen to contend in the NL Central, and Schoenfield pointed to a reduced payroll that leaves room to spend on arms before 2027.
