This year, the Cardinals took just 18 pitchers -- 13 right-handers, five left-handers -- which is the fewest pitchers the Cardinals have taken in the four years since the Draft shrank to 40 rounds. In 2014, the Cardinals used their first six Draft selections on pitchers and took 23 overall.
"There are fewer opportunities in the Minor Leagues right now in our organization for our pitchers, so we have to be selective about bringing pitchers in," said Chris Correa, the Cardinals' director of scouting. "We want to make sure we can give them a full opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and advance through the system.