'Very happy to be a Cardinal': No. 13 pick Trevor Condon, club see a perfect fit

ST. LOUIS -- The last time the Cardinals used a first round pick to select a standout high school player from the state of Georgia, he turned into an All-Star outfielder.

Like Jordan Walker during a Home Run Derby practice session at Busch Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Cardinals swung for the fences by selecting outfielder Trevor Condon with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

As just the fourth high school player selected in the first round, Condon told reporters Saturday that the landing spot with St. Louis resembled the best-case scenario for how his momentous day could have played out.

“Coming into it, I felt like I had a great relationship with the Cardinals,” Condon said. “I felt like that was going to be my ceiling of how high I went up. Blessed that it was my ceiling and my floor today.

“I’m very happy to be a Cardinal. I have a great relationship with most of the staff down there. I’m excited to get to meet everybody behind the scenes, as well. I’m just genuinely blessed.”

Cardinals director of scouting Randy Flores shared the sentiment Saturday night, expressing the enthusiasm shared across multiple departments of the organization over Condon being available at their pick.

During the pre-Draft process, Cardinals brass was struck by the degree to which Condon exuded the joy he has playing baseball, even in a pressurized environment of a private workout in front of MLB scouting personnel.

By the time the scouting combine rolled around, the Cardinals’ interview process with Condon was decidedly laid back.

“We just called him in, and we didn’t even interview him,” Flores said. “We just wanted 30 minutes to hang with him because we had already felt like we were at a good spot with getting to know who he was.”

Condon, the 13th-ranked Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, has gained a reputation as a lefty hitter with an excellent eye, strong bat-to-ball skills and elite sprint speed -- a combination that has drawn comparisons to a prominent rival with whom Cardinals fans are familiar: Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong.

A Tennessee commit, Condon was named the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year this season after he hit .504 with nine homers, 42 RBIs and 15 stolen bases for Etowah High School in the 36 games leading up to the selection. The Cardinals’ first round pick in 2020, Walker earned the same honor in the state of Georgia before going 21st overall to St. Louis out of Decatur High School.

While the Cardinals have a robust recent history in selecting players from the Volunteers, it seems safe to assume that Condon won’t ever make it to Knoxville.

“I’m going to play. Definitely going to play professional ball,” Condon said when asked whether he expected to sign with the Cardinals.

Condon, who is not related to 2024 No. 3 overall pick Charlie Condon, gets the most out of his double-plus speed, creating opportunities on the bases and covering lots of ground in center field, where he also has a solid throwing arm and figures to stick as a pro.

The exuberant teen standout prides himself on playing a versatile game, and seems eager for the ways in which a professional organization can guide his ability to refine his game.

“I see my game as just a speedster who’s dangerous in the box,” Condon said. “A center fielder who takes control and command. I expect myself to just grow and, not perfect, but make permanent, the route decisions, stealing bags and just the little things that you don’t really look at as an 18-year-old.

“I’m excited to use what pro facilities have for me to get me to the next level.”

In hearing Cardinals first round pick Trevor Condon speak, it’s clear pretty quickly he’s got a lot of confidence in himself.

“Truthfully, it comes from all the hard work,” Condon said of where that confidence is found. “It comes from putting your head down and just sticking to what you know. For me, that’s just getting one percent better everyday.”

Condon is a baseball player rather than a draft analyst, but ever the self-assured budding star, he would certainly assign the Cardinals a passing grade for how the club handled its first of a league-high seven Day 1 picks on Saturday.

“They made the right decision,” Condon said. “I’m so excited. I can say that multiple times, but let me show you guys that when I get there.”