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The St. Louis Cardinals top pitching prospect, Liam Doyle, had a tough start in their spring breakout game against the Washington Nationals prospects. Rank number 34 overall by MLB pipeline. The left-hander pitched just one inning, allowing four earned runs on two doubles with three.
Strikeouts and four walks. His fastball sits in upper 90s and touches 100, but his secondary pitches let him down big time. Doyle joined the organization as their fifth overall pick last year out of Tennessee. Scouts love his elite velocity, but he needs to refine his cutter, splitter, and slurve to become a complete arm.
These breakout games spotlight top-arm talent during spring training. After strong summer outings, one in single A-POM beach and one in double A Springfield, where he struck out six over three and two-thirds innings with. Just one earned run, the Cardinals chose caution. No big league camp invite for him, even in rebuild mode.
Instead, they kept him on the minor league side to build up. Experts note his off-speed stuff is key to his upside, and one bad day won't derail him. Doyle should open the year with double A Springfield, against the Amarillo side poodles on April 3rd at 7.05 PM Central. If he sharpens those secondary pitches this season, he stays on track as the Cardinals best pitching hope.
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