Cardinals' Top Pick
St. Louis Cardinals Draft Trevor Condon, Elite High School Outfielder with Top Hitting Tools
Key Points
Draft pick number discrepancy among outlets: MLB.com’s MILB coverage lists Trevor Condon as the Cardinals' No. 13 overall pick, while CBS Sports later reported him as the No. 12 overall pick.
Condon shows elite ball-exit impact (exit velocities reportedly over 100 mph) but scouts note he hasn’t consistently elevated the ball, suggesting he could add pull-side power and become more slugging as he matures.
Condon’s college commitment history includes flipping from Miami to Tennessee in 2024, a notable recruiting storyline given his stature as a top Tennessee signee in the 2026 class.
Grindlinger—another top prospect in the same draft class—reclassified to join the 2026 class and is highlighted as a premier two-way talent, with a left-handed swing and a live mid-90s fastball on the mound, signaling high upside either as a pitcher, hitter, or both.
The St. Louis Cardinals selected Trevor Condon with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, choosing the Georgia high school outfielder over his commitment to play college ball at Tennessee. The slot value for the pick is $5,661,300, and Condon is expected to sign with St. Louis rather than enroll at Tennessee, according to The Tennessean.
Condon, an outfielder from Etowah High School in Georgia, is one of the most electric prep players in this draft class. He combines elite speed with a polished left-handed swing — rare tools for a player still in high school, according to Sports Illustrated.
What Makes Condon Stand Out From Other Prep Stars
Scouts love Condon's speed and contact ability above all else. MLB Pipeline ranked him the No. 13 overall prep prospect in this class. He has exit velocities reportedly over 100 mph, a number that puts him among the hardest-hitting high schoolers in the country. His left-handed stroke lets him drive the ball to all fields, according to Sports Illustrated.
The one knock on Condon is that he hasn't lifted the ball consistently. Scouts say he can add pull-side power as he matures. If he does, he could become a five-tool player — someone who hits, runs, fields, throws, and hits for power. Some evaluators have already compared him to Pete Crow-Armstrong for his blend of hitting skill and speed.
From Miami Flip to Tennessee Signee to Cardinals Pick
Condon's recruiting story drew attention before the draft even started. He originally committed to Miami, then flipped his pledge to Tennessee in 2024. That made him one of the top signees in Tennessee's 2026 recruiting class. Evaluators compared his tools and flair to former Vol Drew Gilbert, according to The Tennessean.
He also won the Gatorade Player of the Year award in Georgia, a state-level honor that signals elite high school pedigree. Now the Cardinals are betting he skips campus entirely. The $5.66 million slot value gives St. Louis strong leverage to sign him before the deadline, Daily News Journal reported.
A Pick Number Dispute Between Major Outlets
Not every outlet agreed on Condon's draft position. MLB.com's Minor League Baseball coverage listed him as the No. 13 overall pick. CBS Sports reported him as No. 12. The difference comes down to how outlets count picks, not two separate events. Both numbers refer to the same Cardinals selection in the first round of the 2026 draft, according to Sports Illustrated.
The discrepancy caused brief confusion online but did not change the outcome. Condon is a Cardinal. The slot value is fixed at $5,661,300 regardless of which number a given outlet used in its coverage.
Cardinals Round Out Draft with More Young Talent
St. Louis didn't stop at Condon. With the No. 32 pick, the Cardinals selected Tegan Kuhns, another athlete with ties to the University of Tennessee, according to Roundtable. The team also took a 17-year-old Alabama prep shortstop named Rocco M with the next selection, adding even more youth to their pipeline.
Elsewhere in the draft, a prospect named Grindlinger drew major buzz as a two-way talent. He reclassified to join the 2026 class and brings a live mid-90s fastball on the mound alongside a polished left-handed swing at the plate. Scouts see him as a high-upside player who could develop as a pitcher, hitter, or both.
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