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The last time the Cardinals selected as high as No. 5 came in 1998, when they took J.D. Drew fifth overall. Last July, they selected infielder JJ Wetherholt, their current top prospect (who was promoted to Class AAA on Monday), with the No. 7 pick.

A chance to make a selection fifth overall, a position the Cardinals landed in the draft lottery, will present an opportunity to select one of the top-ranked draft-eligible player in a class that includes high school standouts like shortstop Ethan Holliday, highly rated college lefty starters and college bats led by Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette.

With the Cardinals set to make their highest draft pick since 1998, here’s a look at 10 of this year’s top draft-eligible players:

Ethan Holliday, SS

The son of Cardinals Hall of Famer Matt and younger brother to Jackson, the Orioles’ No. 1 pick in 2022, Ethan is ranked by Baseball America as this year’s No. 1 draft prospect. The 18-year-old left-handed hitter and Stillwater (Oklahoma) High School product has a “smooth and powerful� swing, strong pitch-tracking skills and a “knack� for hitting to all fields, his BA scouting report says. Though he tends to swing and miss, his offensive upside ranks among the best in his class. Third base, the corner outfield spots and first base are options for him if he outgrows shortstop.

Seth Hernandez, RHP

The top-ranked prep arm in the class, Hernandez’s offensive talents would make him a pro prospect as a shortstop, but his pitching provides enough upside for the 19-year-old to be seen as just a pitcher. While at Corona (California) High School, Hernandez showed a four-pitch mix that tops the 2025 class. His fastball reaches 100 mph. He has a low-80s mph change-up that is viewed as his best secondary pitch, per BA. His slider and curveball have above-average potential. Hernandez is committed to Vanderbilt University.

Eli Willits, SS

With an all-around profile that is one of the best in his class, per BA, the 17-year-old Willits is a switch-hitter who can hit the ball on a line to all fields from both sides of the plate. Willits, who attended Fort Cobb-Broxton (Oklahoma) High School, could develop average power and has the tools to be an above-average defender at shortstop. He is committed to the University of Oklahoma.

Kade Anderson, LHP

Coming off a first team all-SEC selection this past season at Louisiana State University, Anderson is rated by BA as the top college arm in the class. Anderson, who will be 21 on draft day, led NCAA Division I baseball in strikeouts (180) and held a 3.18 ERA for the College World Series champions. His fastball ranges from 92 mph to 95 mph and touches 97 mph. His curveball is seen as a plus pitch and goes with his slider and change-up. A plus strike-thrower, Anderson underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022, when he was still in high school.

Aiva Arquette, SS

The top-ranked collegiate bat in the class, Arquette hit .354 with 19 homers and had a 1.115 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 65 games during his lone season at Oregon State University. The 21-year-old increased his walk rate to career-high 12.6% after walking in 7.4% of his plate appearances a season prior at the University of Washington. The combination of above-average bat speed and Arquette’s strong 6-foot-4 frame gives him plus raw power, though that has come with some swing and miss, according to BA’s scouting report of the right-handed hitter. Arquette has a plus arm and could stick at shortstop or land at third base.

Jamie Arnold, LHP

Following a strong sophomore season at Florida State University, Arnold held a 2.98 ERA, struck out 119 batters and walked 27 in 84 2/3 innings this past season. Arnold’s fastball ranges from 92 mph to 95 mph and touches 98 mph, per BA. The depth on his sweeping slider can baffle lefties and righties. The movement profile on his change-up shows the pitch can be better than average. Arnold is seen as a solid strike-thrower.

Kyson Witherspoon, RHP

The former community college transfer sported a 2.65 ERA, striking out 124 batters and walking 23 in 95 innings this past season for the University of Oklahoma. His fastball is one of the hardest in the class as it sits in the 95-to-97 mph range and reaches 99 mph. A mid-80s mph slider with plus potential highlights a secondary that includes a curveball, change-up and a cutter. Witherspoon, 20, cut his walk rate from 11.2% to 5.5% this past season.

Liam Doyle, LHP

Doyle had a 3.20 ERA and 164 strikeouts for the University of Tennessee this past season. He had averaged 15.4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and a 5.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 95 2/3 innings while leading Division I baseball with a 42.6% strikeout rate. Doyle’s fastball, which was given a 70 grade on a scale of 80 by BA, hovers around 95 mph to 97 mph and touches 100. The 21-year-old’s splitter highlights a secondary that includes a slider, a change-up and cutter. The splitter has above-average potential, his scouting report says.

Billy Carlson, SS

A teammate of Hernandez’s at Corona (California) High School, Carlson is viewed as one of the top defenders of his class. His smooth actions, footwork and “rocket of an arm� give him Gold Glove potential, per his scouting report. The 18-year-old has strong bat-to-ball skills and the chance to develop average power potential. A two-way prospect who can hit 97 mph on the mound, Carlson is committed to the University of Tennessee.

Joseph Parker, SS

The left-handed-hitting Parker makes a case to be one of the best pure hitters in the draft given his solid bat speed, strength and ability to take pitches. He has the makings to be an above-average hitter with above-average power, per BA. Parker’s advanced internal clock, above-average arm strength and work ethic could help him stick at shortstop. The Purvis (Mississippi) High School standout is committed to Mississippi State.