The speculation is finally over — the St. Louis Cardinals have officially announced the signing of Vanderbilt ace Lucas Carter, selected with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The deal, confirmed Tuesday morning, includes a reported $4.3 million signing bonus, slightly above slot value, signaling just how strongly the Cardinals believe in the right-hander’s future.
Cardinals Land Their Ace of the Future
Carter, 21, starred at Vanderbilt during his junior year, posting a 2.11 ERA with 127 strikeouts and only 18 walks across 94.2 innings in the ultra-competitive SEC. His electric fastball consistently touches 98 mph, and his tight slider and refined pitch sequencing make him one of the most polished arms in the class.
“He’s got the stuff and the mindset to lead a rotation,” said Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores. “We’ve had our eyes on Lucas for a long time. To have him fall into our lap at 22 — that’s a gift. He was our top target.”
Cardinals Pounced When Opportunity Struck
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak shared that Carter was among their highest-ranked prospects going into the draft. “His combination of power, command, and competitiveness made this an easy call,” Mozeliak said. “He’s a player we believe can move quickly and potentially be a big-league contributor sooner than later.”
What’s Next for Lucas Carter?
Carter is expected to report to the Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida for physicals and onboarding later this week. If all goes according to plan, his pro debut will come in a few weeks with High-A Peoria. Cardinals staff plan to manage his innings carefully this season, but insiders suggest he could be on the fast track to St. Louis by 2026.
Praise from Analysts, Buzz from Fans
Draft analysts praised the pick, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel calling Carter “a top-15 talent who dropped because of signability concerns — the Cardinals capitalized perfectly.” The Athletic’s Keith Law added, “Lucas Carter has frontline potential. This could end up being one of the best picks of the first round.”
Meanwhile, Cardinals fans took to social media with excitement. Hashtags like #CarterToTheCards and #NextAceInTown trended regionally as fans celebrated the club’s bold move to secure a top-tier arm.
A Message of Long-Term Vision
With stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado leading the present, the Cardinals made it clear that Lucas Carter is part of the future. “This pick is about more than just today,” said Mozeliak. “It’s about the next decade of Cardinals baseball. And with Carter, we’re taking a big step toward that future.”
