Mock drafts are great for discussion and entertainment value. As for reliability ... well, two out of three ain’t bad.
But for entertainment value alone, it’s worth taking a look at who some of the MLB insiders believe the St. Louis Cardinals are going to select with the No. 5 selection in the MLB Draft, which will take place in on July 13-14, in Atlanta, as part of MLB's All-Star Week festivities.
A popular choice among several evaluators is shortstop Eli Willits out of Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in southwest Oklahoma. A 6-foot-1, 175-pound switch-hitter, Willits is the son of former major league outfielder Reggie Willits, who played 414 games from 2006-11 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Shortstop Eli Willits, Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK) High School
Willits, who does not turn 18 until December 9, announced about a year ago that he was reclassifying for the 2025 draft, then finished his course work at Fort Cobb-Broxton High in three years rather than four to be eligible for the draft a year early. At least one prognosticator believes the Washington Nationals could take Willits with the top pick, which would make him the youngest player ever selected at No. 1 overall.
Prospects Live has Willits ranked at No. 3 for the upcoming draft, saying this about the University of Oklahoma recruit:
"Eli shows advanced feel and balance from both sides of the plate. Both swings are compact and short to the baseball with his right-handed swing features more bat speed and raw power, while the left-handed stroke is more contact-driven with natural gap-to-gap ability. While he likely projects for fringe-average power long-term, his bat-to-ball skills, strike zone discipline, and overall approach are extremely advanced for his age and has the stuff to mature into a true leadoff hitter for the next level. Defensively, Willits is a steady, athletic presence on the infield. He shows clean footwork, soft hands, and a strong, accurate arm. Though he may not be the flashiest or twitchiest defender, his instincts, internal clock, and consistency give him a real chance to stick at shortstop. He's also logged time in center field, most notably during the 18U USA Trials, where his speed and feel translated well. Long-term, there's versatility in his profile, but he has every chance to remain on the middle dirt until a move is necessary. On the basepaths, Willits is an average to above-average runner with solid instincts, making him a legitimate base-stealing threat at the next level. Overall, Willits brings above-average tools across the board and knows how to use them. His balanced skill set and instincts evoke shades of a young José Reyes, with switch-hit polish, speed, and quiet confidence to impact the game in all phases.”
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports is one of the analysts forecasting the Cardinals to take Willits at No. 5. However, Axisa offers the caveat that he believes the Cardinals would prefer if one of the top college left-handed pitchers, Kade Anderson of Louisiana State University or Jamie Arnold of Florida State, were still available when they pick.
And Axisa is not alone in that guess. MLB.com has the Cardinals taking Willits, although stating, “the Cardinals would love to see Arnold available at five.” Keith Law of The Athletic likewise predicts St. Louis selecting Willits, while noting, “I think the Cards would take any of the four players I have going ahead of them (shortstop Aiva Arquette, left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle, Anderson or shortstop Ethan Holliday) over Willits.”
Left-handed Pitcher Kade Anderson, Louisiana State University
Gabe Lacques of USA Today believes that the Colorado Rockies will choose Willits at the No. 4 position, and he feels St. Louis will acquire “one of the elite college lefties” in the 6-2, 179-pound Anderson. Of the draft-eligible sophomore, who withdrew from the 2023 draft as a highly-touted prep arm after undergoing Tommy John surgery a year earlier, Prospects Live had this to say:
“Anderson's body is highly projectable, and his quick arm suggests higher velocity gains in the near future. Working from a high three-quarters slot, he features a clean arm swing and repeatable mechanics. Anderson begins his arsenal with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, touching 96 mph, with exceptional carry up in the zone and big extension, making it extremely effective at missing barrels. His mid-80s slider is a quality bat-missing pitch that keeps hitters off balance, while his upper-70s curveball is a true above-average to plus offering with huge spin and depth, missing bats at a 50% clip in 2024. Both breaking balls have taken a step forward this season, giving him a strong 1-2 punch that plays well in the SEC. Anderson has begun to mix in a firm changeup, though his feel for the pitch is still developing. During his first start of the 2025 season, he generated 17 whiffs on 33 swings (51.5%), with all four pitches: fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup, posting at least a 30% swing-and-miss rate. At times, his curveball stands out as his best weapon, giving him a well-rounded arsenal that keeps hitters guessing.”
Shortstop JoJo Parker, Purvis (MS) High School
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN goes a different direction and suggests that the Cardinals could take shortstop JoJo Parker of Purvis High School in Mississippi.
“If Anderson, Arnold and Holliday are gone, this pick is seen as likely to be a position player -- probably the one the Cards think has the best hit tool of the group,” McDaniel reasoned. “Parker would most likely come with some (but not a lot of) savings if he went here and, of late, he has momentum to sneak ahead of (Billy) Carlson and/or Willits. Some teams think Parker is actually the best hitter in the draft.”