At the MLB Combine to meet with teams picking near the top of the Draft, fiery left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle made one thing clear: He was eager to begin his pro career as soon as possible, so much so that he wanted to pitch again even though he had already thrown 95 2/3 innings while starring at the University of Tennessee. After all, Doyle’s college career hardly ended the way he wanted, and he was eager to end 2025 on a positive note. Doyle, who led college baseball in strikeouts per nine innings (15.4) this past season, got his wish after being the No. 5 pick of the Draft by the Cardinals. Not long after meeting with pitching director Matt Pierpont, Doyle was back on a mound. “After the college season, I was shut down for about two weeks of no throwing and then I was building up before the Draft,” said Doyle, who made his first Double-A start with playoff-bound Springfield on Saturday and struck out three over two scoreless innings. “Once I got to Jupiter, I sat down with [Pierpont] to figure out what the plan was going to be. I pitched almost 100 innings in college, so a little rest never hurt. I built up and felt strong, and they watched my ‘pens and could tell I was ready.” |
Was he ever. The Cardinals' No. 2 prospect not only hit 98.4 mph four times in his first pro start last Saturday with Single-A Palm Beach, but his first Minor League strikeout came with an asterisk. His fastball not only fooled the hitter, but it was missed by the home plate umpire and later turned into strike three by the ABS challenge system. Doyle’s abbreviated outing showed off his massive potential as a hard-throwing lefty with swing-and-miss stuff. He struck out three of the seven hitters he faced and his fastball averaged 96.1 mph. Having passed that first professional test, Doyle was promoted to Springfield where he hopes to help the Cards win a Texas League crown. In addition to joining a surging Springfield club, Doyle got to learn from rehabbing big leaguers Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan. “Watching Nolan walk in at noon when the clubhouse wasn’t open until 2:30 was pretty cool,” Doyle said of Arenado, who is rehabilitating his strained right shoulder. “Watching [Arenado and Donovan] go about their business and seeing everything that makes them great has been great. I’m trying to learn from them and be the best version of myself.” |
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This version of Doyle is one full of fire and modeled after Cy Young winners Chris Sale and Max Scherzer. Born in Boston and raised in Derry, N.H., Doyle watched Sale while starring for the Red Sox. As for Scherzer, he’s talked with the suburban St. Louis native thanks to a connection with Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello. Doyle’s passion produced a viral moment in June when Tennessee was facing Wake Forest in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Even after pitching 6 2/3 innings two days earlier, Doyle entered that deciding game in relief. To try and disrupt the rhythm of Doyle -- a fast worker who feeds off his emotions -- Wake Forest associate head coach Bill Cilento called timeout before a 1-2 pitch. While waving off infielders who wanted to talk, Doyle was caught on camera challenging hitter Luke Costello. “You’re [finished],” Doyle barked with some blue language. He proved true by throwing a 99-mph fastball for the strikeout that was a part of 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief work to seal the 11-5 win. “I’ve always kind of had that edge to me. That’s something that kind of comes with being from the northeast,” Doyle said. |
In a similar spot in the NCAA Super Regionals, Doyle surrendered a homer and five runs as Tennessee had its season ended by Arkansas. Now, he wants to make sure his final baseball memory of 2025 is helping Springfield win a title. “When I go out there, [intensity] is what I owe to the fans and my family,” he said. “This is my job now, which is pretty cool to say. I just try to put on a show and compete to the best of my ability. Baseball is something that I seem to be pretty good at, and I just like competing, and I feel like that’s what I should be doing.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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WETHERHOLT, RODRIGUEZ LEAD CARDS MINOR LEAGUE STANDOUTS |
Here is a look at some of the other top performers in the Cards system: Triple-A Memphis: Back after missing a week with a groin injury, JJ Wetherholt -- the No. 1 prospect in the Cards’ system -- is still playing at a high level with his eye-popping 1.006 OPS, nine homers and 13 doubles in 41 games. Even more impressive is the fact that Wetherholt has nearly as many walks (22) as he does strikeouts (25). Double-A Springfield: The 86-win S-Cards are poised to win both halves of the Texas League season. Double-digit home run hitters No. 11 Joshua Baez (14 homers, .849 OPS), Ramon Mendoza (14 homers, .848 OPS), No. 3 Leonardo Bernal (13 homers, .723 OPS), No. 24 Chase Davis (10 homers, .714 OPS), Dakota Harris (10 homers, .639 OPS) and Jeremy Rivas (10 homers, .620 OPS) have led the offense. No. 15 Ixan Henderson (9-7, 2.59), No. 21 Brycen Mautz (8-3, 2.98), Pete Hansen (8-5, 3.93 ERA) and Max Rajcic (3-3, 4.07 ERA) have anchored the starting rotation. High-A Peoria: Credit to Viva El Birdos writer Adam Akbani for uncovering this stellar stat that sums up the enormous potential of 18-year-old catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, who is the No. 4 prospect in the Cards’ system, after compiling a .954 OPS this season at three levels of Minor League play in 2025: Since 2006, only nine 18-year-olds have had at least 250 plate appearances and a 150 wRC+ in a Minor League season: Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Wander Franco, Jackson Chourio, Samuel Basallo, Fernando Tatis Jr., Freddie Freeman and … Rodriguez (162 wRC+ with 20 homers and 63 RBI in 84 games). Single-A Palm Beach: Lefty Braden Davis, the No. 22 prospect in the Cards’ system, laid the foundation for his strong 2025 with a stellar start in Palm Beach. While splitting time at Palm Beach and Peoria, the former Oklahoma University standout struck out 153 hitters in 110 1/3 innings. |
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