MLB writer calls Cardinals draft class 'favorite' of day one

The St. Louis Cardinals are a team looking to build for the future. With John Mozeliak stepping down and Chaim Bloom taking over, the Cardinals are in a transition year this season. 

Even amid the ongoing changes inside the organization, the team still has a draft and the trade deadline to manage. In some scenarios, the Cardinals could mess up the draft. But, according to Keith Law of The Athletic, the Cardinals didn't mess up; they did great.

"I think the St. Louis Cardinals had my favorite Day 1 group based on their top two picks." Law wrote. "They took my top pitcher, Liam Doyle, at No. 5. ... The Cardinals followed that up with Ryan Mitchell at No. 55, getting what I thought was a first-round bat in need of a new position."

The high praise from Law is a great sign that the Cardinals did well in the draft. While these two picks weren't the only ones the Cardinals made on night one, they were the two standout selections for St. Louis.

MORE: Cardinals announce bad Lars Nootbaar news ahead of All-Star break

Doyle, in 19 appearances this past season with Tennessee, had a 10-4 record with a 3.20 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He was the best in the nation when it came to strikeouts per nine innings, as he had 164 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitched this season.

Mitchell is an 18-year-old prospect out of Houston High School, who had a remarkable .462 batting average in high school. He also had 12 home runs and 39 stolen bases.

The left-handed hitting shortstop could stay at the position, though over time, he may trend towards second base or center field.

Rounding out night one of the draft, which Law called his "favorite" of day one, the Cardinals took pitcher Tanner Franklin from Tennessee, their second Tennessee pitcher this draft, with the 72nd overall pick, and also brought in first baseman Jack Gurevitch out of the University of San Diego with the 89th pick.

Overall, it was a very strong draft class, with high upside pitching and solid position players. While there will be plenty more players added during the rest of the draft for St. Louis, according to Law, the team got off to an incredible start.

MORE MLB NEWS:

• Astros GM Dana Brown reveals recovery timeline for Jake Meyers amid injury
• Cardinals get good news on top Diamondbacks trade targets
• Tigers get positive update on availability of top trade targets
• Padres' Yu Darvish on cusp of professional baseball history
• Guardians could trade injured Cy Young Award winner at MLB trade deadline
• Tigers 'strongly interested' in pair of Twins righty relievers