Two paramount pieces of the Cardinals’ future showed off in the Texas League Finals on Wednesday despite Double-A Springfield’s loss in a decisive Game 3.
Rainiel Rodriguez mashed a clutch home run, while Liam Doyle pitched five innings of one-run ball before Amarillo pulled away late for a 6-4 win at Route 66 Stadium. Springfield was vying for its second straight championship.
Rodriguez, the club’s top prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 prospect overall, rocketed a two-run shot in the third inning to open Springfield’s scoring. Registered at 110 mph off the bat on the stadium’s Trackman technology, Rodriguez clobbered the ball to straightaway left field, and he celebrated accordingly for a swing that gave his team a then-2-1 lead.
The lone blemish on Doyle’s line Wednesday was an unearned run in the first inning. He struck out six, walked two and scattered four hits, improving his 2026 postseason performance to just two runs (one earned) across 8 2/3 innings and two starts. Doyle (STL No. 2, MLB No. 41) threw 89 total pitches Wednesday, 56 of them for strikes.
The big league Cardinals exceeded expectations in 2026, a year that seemed destined for a true rebuild after dealing away stalwarts Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan in the offseason. But the Redbirds hung around the playoff chase for most of the year and saw important breakouts from Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt. Rodriguez, 19, and Doyle, 22, may not be ready to join that group at the outset of the 2027 season, but they shouldn’t be far behind.
COMPLETE CARDINALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Rodriguez had a massive season this year across 28 games at High-A and 87 at Double-A. He’s done nothing but hit throughout his three Minor League seasons, posting a .324/.413/.574 slash line with 27 home runs. Primarily a catcher, Rodriguez has some growing to do defensively, which might include time on the infield. He played first base in Wednesday’s game.
Doyle, the fifth overall Draft pick in 2025 out of Tennessee, pitched the entire year at Double-A with a 3.76 ERA in 23 starts. The intense lefty struggled with walks at times but continued to overpower opponents, striking out 130 batters in 103 innings.
The 2026 season may not officially be over for Rodriguez and Doyle, as they could see a bump to Triple-A Memphis for at least two more games this year. Regardless, this duo has the future looking bright in St. Louis.