With the 25th overall pick, the Cardinals have selected shortstop Delvin Perez out of Puerto Rico. Perez was originally projected as a top-10 pick in this year's draft class, but a pre-draft positive test for performance-enhancing drugs caused him to slide to the mid-twenties.
Prior to the draft, MLB.com had Perez going to the Brewers with the fifth overall pick while ESPN had him slipping all the way to the Dodgers at 20th overall. Baseball America projected a complete fall out of the first round for the shortstop.
St. Louis has a crowded infield at the major-league level, though their farm system lacks depth in the area. The club has 20-year old Edmundo Sosa as the only infielder in its top 13 prospects.
Due mostly to where he’s from, Perez is drawing some unfair comparisons to Astros star Carlos Correa. The 17-year old Puerto Rican shortstop has the defensive acumen to stick at the position long-term. At 6-foot-3, 165 lbs., he’s some bulking away from matching Correa’s size.
MLB.com has Perez ranked as the ninth-best prospect in this year’s draft class and the best overall infielder. While Baseball America has Perez ranked one spot higher overall at seventh, he sits behind third base prospect Nick Senzel for the highest-rated infielder.