Joshua Baez Is Forcing His Way Onto Cardinals' Radar

The 22-year-old outfield prospect is turning heads in Cardinals camp after a breakout 2025 season.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 1:37pm

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Joshua Baez, a top outfield prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system, has earned a locker in the major league clubhouse this spring training after a standout 2025 season across High-A and Double-A. Baez, who is on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, is looking to make the big league club out of camp after slashing .287/.384/.500 with 20 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 54 stolen bases last year.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' farm system has been ranked as one of the best in baseball, and Baez's emergence as a top prospect is a testament to the organization's ability to develop talent. If Baez can continue his strong performance in spring training, he could earn a spot on the major league roster and contribute to the Cardinals' success in the upcoming season.

The details

Baez, who is 22 years old, has spent the first four spring trainings of his professional career on the minor league side of the Cardinals' complex in Jupiter, Florida. This year, however, his locker is located on the same side of the clubhouse as Cardinals position players who have major league experience, indicating that the organization sees him as a potential contributor at the big league level.

  • Baez spent the first four spring trainings of his career on the minor league side of the Cardinals' complex in Jupiter, Florida.
  • In 2025, Baez played in 117 games across High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, slashing .287/.384/.500 with 20 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 54 stolen bases.

The players

Joshua Baez

A 22-year-old outfield prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system who is turning heads in spring training after a breakout 2025 season.

Chaim Bloom

The president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, who has been working to bolster the team's farm system since taking over the role.

Derrick Goold

A reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who shared details about Baez's locker placement in the Cardinals' major league clubhouse this spring.

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What they’re saying

“After spending each of his first four spring trainings since turning pro on the minor league side of the Cardinals complex in Jupiter, Florida, this spring brings a different feeling for outfield prospect Joshua Baez. A member of the Cardinals' 40-man roster, Baez is in his first Cardinals camp. He has a locker along the same side of the clubhouse where Cardinals position players who have big-league time are set up.”

— Derrick Goold, Reporter

“The setting, as the 22-year-old Baez put it, is 'what you work for' despite it feeling 'far' while he worked on the backfields over recent years.”

— Joshua Baez

What’s next

It's unclear right now if Baez will make the big league club out of spring training, but his locker placement suggests the Cardinals see him as a potential contributor at the major league level in the near future.

The takeaway

Baez's emergence as a top prospect in the Cardinals' farm system is a testament to the organization's ability to develop talent. If he can continue to perform well in spring training, he could earn a spot on the major league roster and help the Cardinals build on their success in the upcoming season.