Cardinals predicted to replace Masyn Winn for star high school prospect

It is the eve of the 2025 MLB Draft. As the season hits the All-Star break, front offices across the league are figuring out who the next star of their organization will be. 

The St. Louis Cardinals hold the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft. They could go a number directions with their pick. 

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report put out his final mock draft before the first round begins tomorrow afternoon. With the fifth pick, Reuter believes the Cardinals will select Eli Willits, a shortstop out of Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma. 

“The Cardinals now look like the ceiling for Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold, though they have been frequently tied to the top of the prep shortstop class, which is headlined by Eli Willis, Billy Carlson and JoJo Parker,” Reuter said.

Willits stands at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. As the fourth-ranked prospect in the draft Willits is a Oklahoma commit and is a switch-hitter. According to MLB analysis, the 17-year-old doesn’t possess much power, but he can still grow into his body, he could contribute 15 homers a season.

In the story, Reuter compares Willits to five-time All-Star and former Cardinals’ shortstop Edgar Renteria. Renteria also won two Gold Gloves and helped St. Louis win two World Series.

By the time he makes it into the big leagues, he could be the replacement for St. Louis’ current shortstop Masyn Winn, who is in his second year in the MLB. If Willits decides to go to college, he will have to play three seasons at Oklahoma before joining the Cardinals farm system.