Luke Weaver Could Be St. Louis Cardinals’ Next Fast-Rising Pitching Prospect

By Drew Jenkins @DrewJenkins77 on October 14, 2014

In the past two years, we have seen the St. Louis Cardinals draft two pitchers who made big league impacts just one year after they were drafted. In 2013, Michael Wacha, who was picked 19th overall in the 2012 draft, made 15 appearances for the Cardinals in the regular season and ultimately won the NLCS MVP for his efforts in the playoffs. This year it was Marco Gonzalez, who was picked 19th overall in the 2013 draft and is now pitching in the bullpen for the Cardinals in the NLCS. The Cardinals took another college pitcher in the first round of this year’s draft in Luke Weaver. Could he make a similarly quick rise to the big leagues?

Weaver, drafted out of Florida State University at No. 27 overall, features a fastball that consistently sits in the 89-93 MPH range and has nice late sink. He has been able to dial it up to 97 MPH on occasion in the past, and at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds he has room to add muscle and velocity. His best secondary pitch is an advanced changeup that has great late life and is deceptive. What holds him back, however, is a lack of a quality third pitch. He currently throws a slider, but it is fringe-average at best, and he could end up turning it into more of a cutter.

Beyond pure stuff, Weaver has all the intangibles that you want in a pitcher. He commands all of his pitches well, and that makes his stuff play up. He also has a high baseball IQ and knows how to use his arsenal to the best of its ability. Not only that, but he is lauded for great competitiveness and work ethic.

Weaver’s total package gives him a chance to be a fast-riser in the Cardinals’ system. His arsenal doesn’t quite match that of Gonzalez or Wacha, but he still has a solid two pitch mix and his third pitch could end up being average. He has all the polish that you look for in a fast-riser, and that will be what propels him through the system.

Right now, it seems like Weaver could be a No. 4 or 5 starter in the big leagues as soon as next season thanks to his command and pitchability. With a bit more development, especially with his slider/cutter, you can dream of him becoming a No. 3 starter down the road. Whether Weaver can reach the big leagues in his first full professional season in 2015 remains to be seen, but he certainly has a chance to follow the footsteps of Wacha and Gonzalez.

Drew Jenkins is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DrewJenkins77, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google