ST. LOUIS — As the 2025 MLB Draft looms, St. Louis Cardinals fans are buzzing with excitement over who’ll join their roster with the No. 5 pick. After hitting a home run with infielder JJ Wetherholt—now MLB.com’s No. 18 prospect—the Cardinals are eyeing Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold, a potential Chris Sale clone, per a bold mock draft by Just Baseball’s Tyler Jennings and Conor Dorney.
Last year’s steal of Wetherholt, who’s skyrocketed up prospect rankings, proves the Cardinals’ scouting savvy. With the No. 5 pick—among the easiest to predict in the notoriously tricky MLB Draft—St. Louis is poised to land another gem. Jennings and Dorney project Arnold, stating, “No. 5. St. Louis Cardinals – LHP Jamie Arnold, Florida State. Slot Value: $8,134,800. The Cardinals have taken a profile similar to Arnold’s in the past, though that was a different regime, and Arnold is arguably a step better than Hjerpe was. FWIW, Bloom has only taken one college arm in his career (Brendan McKay).”
Ranked No. 4 by MLB.com, Arnold’s rangy frame and whippy arm draw Sale comparisons. MLB.com notes, “A left-hander with a rangy body and a loose, whippy arm, Arnold has seen his stuff tick up since leaving Jesuit High School for Tallahassee. His fastball, which was 88-92 mph in high school, now sits in the 94-95 mph range and touches 97 mph, with a ton of life to miss bats. While his slider can be a little wide at times, the 82-85 mph sweeping breaking ball is a second plus offering that elicited a 41-percent miss rate in 2024.” His changeup adds depth, and his ability to dominate deep into games has scouts salivating.
Despite 2025 hiccups with his heater, Arnold’s track record shines. Jennings and Dorney add, “While Arnold has had his hiccups in 2025, especially with his heater, the track record is there. Arquette is heavily rumored here, plus Seth Hernandez makes a ton of sense here, even with the scary nature of his demographic.”
With Ethan Holliday projected to go No. 1 to the Nationals, the top four picks remain fluid, opening the door for St. Louis. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo also list Arnold in the top five, citing his Sale-like potential. The Cardinals’ history with college arms like Matthew Liberatore adds intrigue to this pick.
This mock draft, while speculative, has Cardinals Nation on edge. As draft day nears, all eyes are on St. Louis to see if they’ll land their next ace.
