The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed a potential standout at No. 5 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting left-handed flamethrower Liam Doyle from Tennessee. Known for his elite strikeout ability, Doyle flashed over 160 punch‑outs in under 100 innings—boasting a fastball that touches 100 mph—prompting strong draft buzz .
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter graded this pick a “B”, directly comparing Doyle to 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. While he praised Doyle’s swing‑and‑miss profile, he noted concerns about secondary pitches—hinting that Doyle might evolve into a reliever if his offspeed arsenal doesn’t reach starter level .
This comparison goes deeper than gadgets and velocity: Doyle’s “max‑effort delivery” and pure heat mirror Ray’s pre‑Cy Young arsenal, setting high expectations for rapidly ascending through the minors.
However, it’s important to note that Doyle is still raw. Reuter emphasized the reliever risk: without refined secondary pitches, the potential ceiling might be limited. Regardless, lefties who throw 100 mph from college are rare finds .
For the Cardinals, landing talent like Doyle at No. 5 was a surprise—and a significant win. They were expected to target position players, yet instead secured what analysts call “the most overpowering pitcher in college baseball this year”
This move injects fresh firepower into the club’s pitching pipeline. With high ceiling and high floor considerations in play, the Cardinals are betting Doyle’s potential—whether as a dominant starter or powerful reliever—is worth the leap.
It’s early, but the optimism is real: if Doyle develops his secondary pitches, he could follow in Robbie Ray’s footsteps as a high-impact, Cy Young-caliber arms in St. Louis.
