MIAMI -- MLBPipeline.com unveiled the Cardinals' midseason prospect list on Thursday, and it features a familiar face in the top spot.
Right-hander Alex Reyes, 21, maintains his position as the club's top prospect despite so-so results (2-2, 5.07 ERA) in Triple-A this year. Reyes also cracked the top echelon of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list, coming in at No. 9 in a ranking of the best prospects in the game. Heading into the 2016 season, Reyes was 13th on that list.
• Cardinals' Top 30 Prospects | Top 100 Prospects
Just behind Reyes in the prospect rankings are right-hander Luke Weaver and outfielder Harrison Bader, both of whom have had standout seasons in Double-A. The two also crept into the Top 100 rankings for the first time, with Weaver placing 98th and Bader 100th. Entering the season, the Cardinals' only presence in the Top 100 had been Reyes.
The organization's midseason Top 30 list features nine new faces, eight of whom were added via the amateur Draft or during the international signing period. The Cardinals' three first-round picks all dented the list, with shortstop Delvin Perez ranking fifth, outfielder Dylan Carlson ranking 21st and right-hander Dakota Hudson ranking 10th.
Four other players jumped at least seven spots since the organization's preseason rankings. The biggest leap was made by right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who moved from 19th to 9th. Right-hander Junior Fernandez rose from 15th to 8th, shortstop Allen Cordoba climbed from 27th to 20th and Bader ascended to third after opening the year as the club's No. 10 prospect.
Two injured lefties -- Marco Gonzales and Tim Cooney -- dropped 10 spots in the rankings because of lost seasons due to arm issues. Gonzales, now No. 17, underwent Tommy John surgery this spring. Cooney, ranked No. 18, is scheduled for a shoulder scope to alleviate discomfort he has been fighting since Spring Training.
The ranking of baseball's top prospects is done by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams.
Only players with rookie status are eligible for the list. The rankings follow the Collective Bargaining Agreement guidelines for which players fall under the international pool money rules: Players who were at least 23 years old when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.