Liam Doyle learned where he would begin his professional baseball career on Sunday night as the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Doyle brings an elite fastball that grades out as the highest of any college pitcher since Paul Skenes came out of LSU. If Doyle can pair that with a strong slider or changeup, he has the potential to be a Randy Johnson-lite pitcher for the Cardinals.
If he can develop his slider into the wipeout slider Johnson was known for having in his arsenal, he could bring the same attitude and mound presence to St. Louis.
They are both lefty pitchers with a dominant fastball, elite spin, and vertical movement on their heater, which produces a ton of swing and misses. They both also bring an intense mound presence and competitive fire. Additionally, Doyle offers the ace potential to match Johnson.
Doyle also wants the ball with the game on the line. He isn't going to shy away from the lights or competition, as seen in the Regionals this past season, where he demanded the ball against Wake Forest after pitching two days before.
Doyle is going to put his team first and believe in his stuff, even if it is seen as unconventional in today's game. That's what makes him a unique player to have on the mound and in the clubhouse for any team.
While it's hard to say Doyle will be the next Randy Johnson, his profile and pitching style could set him up to see similar success on the mound if he develops correctly in the minor leagues and in the first couple of seasons of his MLB career.
If he can stay healthy and develop properly, Doyle could be a true ace who can go 6+ innings in virtually every start with 200 or more strikeouts per season.
The Cardinals have a long history of dominant aces throughout its 143 years and 11 World Series titles. Doyle could already be on his way to being the next great ace for the Cardinals.