The St. Louis Cardinals have selected left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Doyle, recognized as the SEC Pitcher of the Year, led NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeout rate this year and was seen as a top pitching talent by many experts.
Randy Flores, assistant GM and director of scouting for the Cardinals, commented on Doyle’s abilities: “In fairness, we’ve only picked seventh and fifth once in a long, long time, and so each pick you get further and further away from there, it’s a little harder to find 101 [mph fastballs] with swing and miss.” He added that Doyle’s skill set bodes well for his potential as a starting pitcher.
Doyle has undergone significant conditioning improvements during his college career at Tennessee. He noted that working with Tennessee’s strength coach and nutritionist helped him achieve better fitness levels: “Being in the weight room and working with [Tennessee’s strength coach and nutritionist] was a huge thing for me.”
Flores also reflected on how close they came to drafting Ethan Holliday but expressed satisfaction with their choice: “We try to be professional…we’re ecstatic for him and for the Holliday family.”
Doyle is known for his fiery presence on the mound. Flores likened him to some of the franchise’s best pitchers, stating: “On the mound, he kind of puts on a persona. He really does.” Doyle’s competitiveness is expected to contribute positively to his performance with the Cardinals.
