The St. Louis Cardinals’ fifth total choice within the 2025 MLB Draft, Liam Doyle, made his first look at Busch Stadium this week and delivered a transparent message.
“What’s up, Cardinals Nation, on the area for the primary time,” Doyle stated in an Instagram video. “Appears superior right here, able to get to work.”
The 22-year-old hard-throwing left-hander arrives in St. Louis with distinctive credentials and excessive expectations.
Doyle emerged as school baseball’s high strikeout pitcher in 2025, main all NCAA Division I qualifiers with a 15.5 strikeouts per 9 innings (Ok/9) ratio. In 19 appearances (17 begins) for the College of Tennessee, he posted a ten–4 document, a 3.20 ERA, and a school-record 164 strikeouts over 95 2/3 innings. His efficiency earned him SEC Pitcher of the 12 months honors.
Initially from New Hampshire, Doyle’s path to Tennessee included stops at Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss. At Coastal in 2023, he struck out 69 in 56 1/3 innings, then posted 84 strikeouts in 55 innings at Ole Miss in 2024. He additionally helped pitch a mixed no-hitter towards St. Bonaventure, Tennessee’s first since 2002, and entered the season ranked because the No. 1 draft prospect by The Athletic’s Keith Regulation.
Doyle’s draft availability at No. 5 got here after a number of surprising early picks because the Washington Nationals took 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits No. 1 total, and the Los Angeles Angels chosen UC-Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner at No. 2. LSU’s Kade Anderson and Ethan Holliday out of highschool(son of Cardinals legend Matt Holliday) adopted, leaving Doyle obtainable for St. Louis.
Cardinals assistant GM and scouting director Randy Flores praised Doyle’s swing-and-miss arsenal, noting his potential to generate separation between his fastball and split-fingered fastball. Flores pressured the long-term worth of buying a pitcher with a 101 mph fastball and explosive strikeout potential by means of the draft, citing the excessive price of comparable expertise on the free-agent market.
Doyle’s transformation at Tennessee included a 20-plus pound weight reduction, made potential by means of rigorous conditioning and every day dedication to coaching. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound southpaw credited Tennessee’s energy employees for serving to him enhance his stamina and efficiency.
His ardour on the mound drew comparisons to Cardinals Corridor of Famer Al Hrabosky, whereas his composure off the sector reminded Flores of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Doyle even shares a private reference to Carpenter, who as soon as coached him in summer season ball.
Now formally a part of the Cardinals group, Doyle turns into their highest-drafted left-handed pitcher since Donovan Osborne (No. 13 in 1990).