Central STL News

Liam Doyle, a left-handed pitcher selected fifth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2025 MLB Draft, is being compared to Trey Yesavage for his potential rapid rise to Major League success. Yesavage, who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024, made an immediate impact after joining the team in September and played a key role during their postseason run. He set rookie records for strikeouts in both a World Series game and throughout the postseason.

Doyle finished last spring leading Division I in strikeout rate with 15.4 per nine innings and advanced to Double-A at the end of his brief professional debut. His pitching repertoire includes a fastball that can reach triple digits, along with an 82-85 mph slider, an upper-80s cutter, and a splitter—all considered potentially strong pitches.

The article also highlights other prospects from the 2025 draft class who could make quick transitions to Major League Baseball. These include Kade Anderson (Mariners), Gage Wood (Phillies), Kyson Witherspoon (Red Sox), Andrew Fischer (Brewers), Jamie Arnold (Athletics), and A.J. Russell (Rangers). Each player brings unique strengths such as high strikeout rates or standout performances in college baseball.

The Cardinals’ outlook for 2026 may affect how quickly Doyle moves through their system, but his performance so far suggests he could be among those rare players who make significant contributions soon after being drafted.

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