Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Bedell is an attractive target for clubs that favor youth and performance. He was Iowa's top 2018 prep prospect until he graduated a semester ahead of schedule to enroll early at Missouri, which will make him one of the youngest college players (20 years, 9 months) in the 2020 Draft. After posting a 1.56 ERA as a sophomore reliever last spring, he dominated even more as a starter in the Cape Cod League (0.59 ERA, .383 opponent OPS, 36/3 K/BB ratio) and continued to pound the strike zone in that role this spring.

Bedell's two- and four-seam fastballs sat in the low 90s when he started on the Cape, with sink or run depending on which version he used. He worked more in the upper 80s in cold weather during the truncated 2020 season, but his heater continued to play up because of his command. There's debate as to whether his fading low-80s changeup or his slightly slower curveball is his best secondary pitch, and he also can mix in a mid-80s cutter.

Bedell has a sound delivery and the athleticism to repeat it with ease. He attacks hitters with confidence because he can locate his pitches where he wants. Fellow Missouri hurler T.J. Sikkema rode pitchability and a high floor into the supplemental first round in 2019, and Bedell could take a similar path this year.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

Bedell was taken in the fourth round of the Cardinals’ 2020 Draft class -- which also includes Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Tink Hence and Alec Burleson -- as a reliver-turned-starter out of Missouri. After signing for above slot at $800,000, he made it two outings into his first full season with High-A Peoria before he needed Tommy John surgery. He didn’t return to a Minor League mound until August 2022 and then only in abbreviated outings. Back with no IL stints in 2023, he was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.44 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 106 strikeouts in 96 innings for Peoria. 

Getting through the season healthy was perhaps the biggest win of all for the 6-foot-2 right-hander, but he showed a potential starter’s repertoire too. His four-seam fastball and sinker can sit 91-94 mph, and he’ll run the former up the ladder for the occasional high whiff. He’s worked on adding a low-80s gyro slider that’s become his best breaking ball, giving him a gloveside option that plays off the armside sinker, and his mid-80s changeup can show promising fade, though it remains inconsistent. He has a curveball -- arguably his best pitch in college -- in his back pocket as well. 

Bedell walked 8.7 percent of his batters faced last year, giving him solid control. That’s a good sign for someone with so much missed time, and the command may only improve as he adds innings. St. Louis didn’t protect him from the Rule 5 Draft when he was eligible in the offseason, and no team selected him either, a sign of how far the industry believes he still has to go. Bedell’s age-24 season in 2024 will be go time.  

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The Cardinals’ 2020 Draft has a chance to become a legendary one. The organization’s top four picks (Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Tink Hence, Alec Burleson) entered 2023 as Top 100 prospects. Fourth-rounder Bedell has had a bumpier entrance into pro ball. The Missouri product used a breakout performance in the 2019 Cape Cod League to command an above-slot $800,000 bonus three years ago, but got in only two High-A appearances in 2021 before needing Tommy John surgery. He returned last August and struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings between the Florida Complex League and Single-A Palm Beach.

During that brief return to full-season ball, Bedell sat 90-93 mph with four-seam and sinking fastballs, maxing out at 94.9. That’s roughly in line with where he was pre-surgery, and he leaned heavily on the heat as he worked to find his command again as he built back up. He used his 75-79 mph curveball as his most featured off-speed pitch, and while it didn’t elicit many whiffs in the small sample, it has enough break to do so in the future. A mid-80s fading changeup had the makings of an above-average pitch in the past, but he’ll need to find it again with experience. He also used to possess a mid-80s cutter that he didn't use in the FSL, and he's added a low-80s slider that has helped him rack up strikeouts nicely in 2023 with High-A Peoria.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander walked 7.1 percent of batters he faced in college, and that level of control, along with a relatively deep pitch mix, has given hope that he can be a future Major League starter. This will be Bedell’s 40-man decision year, so he needs to show both health and a return to pre-TJ form to press the issue with St. Louis. He's certainly helped his case with a strong showing at High-A Peoria to begin 2023.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Primarily a reliever in his first two seasons at Missouri, Bedell broke out most at the Cape Cod League in 2019, where he sported a 0.59 ERA and 36/3 K/BB ratio in six starts for Wareham. He slotted into the Tigers rotation the following spring and got off to a solid start, which included a 12-strikeout performance against Western Illinois in his final outing before the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. The Cardinals grabbed Bedell in the fourth round of the shortened Draft that summer and went over slot to sign him to an $800,000 bonus. The right-hander only got in two appearances at High-A Peoria before needing Tommy John surgery in May 2021. He returned to the Minor League mound this August.

Before the procedure, Bedell threw in the low 90s with both his four-seam and two-seam fastball and showed promising movement. His low-80s changeup and curveball were equally in the discussion for his best off-speed offering, with the former having perhaps a few more fans because of its fade. A mid-80s cutter gave him a desirable fourth pitch for a complete arsenal.

Utilizing a strong delivery, the 6-foot-2 hurler hasn’t had any issue filling the zone at the collegiate or pro level, and if that returns post-procedure, that control will grease the wheels of his charge toward St. Louis. That’s still a large assumption, even with the recent successes of Tommy John. Given the timing of last year’s surgery, he should be back on a Minor League mound by the height of the summer, and the Cardinals have been pleased with the progress of his rehab. We may have to wait until 2023 to determine whether he remains on track to be a starter or if he might be better served with a move to the bullpen in his search for a true plus pitch.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball 55: | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

Bedell, who graduated high school a semester early to enroll early at Missouri, tallied 11 2/3 innings as a freshman in 2018 and then took off as a sophomore, when he racked up 36 strikeouts over 40 1/3 innings out of the bullpen while holding opponents to a .193 batting average against. The righty followed that up with a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League. Moved to the rotation in 2020, Bedell fanned 35 over 24 1/3 innings and struck out a career-high 12 over six innings in his final start before the coronavirus pandemic halted the season. The Cardinals selected Bedell in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft and signed him to an over-slot $800,000 bonus. He made his professional debut in 2021, but appeared in just two games before having Tommy John surgery.

Bedell works his fastball in the low 90s and throws two- and four-seamers, both with movement. There’s debate as to what his best secondary pitch is, but he throws a low-80s changeup with fade and a curveball around the same velocity. He also possesses a mid-80s cutter and pitches with confidence because of his above-average command and strong delivery.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound right-hander is viewed as a pitcher with a high floor who could move quickly through the Cardinals’ system. Bedell’s fastball could tick up a bit in short bursts if he’s moved to the bullpen, but he’ll be developed as a starter first and could find a home in the middle or back end of a rotation in the future.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball 55: | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Bedell was Iowa's top high school prospect for 2018 until he graduated a semester early so he could enroll early at Missouri, which made him one of the youngest college players (20 years, 9 months) in the 2020 Draft. He posted a 1.56 ERA as a sophomore reliever in 2019, dominated as a starter in Cape Cod League (0.59 ERA, 36/3 K/BB ratio, .383 opponent OPS) and continued to pound the strike zone in that role this spring. He lasted until the fourth round, longer than expected, but landed an over-slot $800,000 bonus. 

Bedell's two- and four-seam fastballs operated in the low 90s when he starred on the Cape, with run or sink depending on which version he used. Working in cold weather during the shortened 2020 seasons, he worked more in the upper 80s but continued to succeed because of his command. Scouts debate as to whether his fading low-80s changeup or slightly slower curveball is his best secondary pitch, and he also mixes in a mid-80s cutter. 

With a sound delivery and the athleticism to repeat it with ease, Bedell provides constant strikes. He won't overpower hitters but attacks them with confidence because he can locate his pitches wherever he wants. He has a high floor as a likely No. 4 or 5 starter and has the polish to advance quickly through the Minors. 

Awards

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

MID Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/20/2024	Memphis Redbirds activated RHP Ian Bedell from the 7-day injured list.
	08/07/2024	Memphis Redbirds placed RHP Ian Bedell on the 7-day injured list.
	06/20/2024	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals.
	04/04/2024	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Springfield Cardinals.
	03/08/2024	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to St. Louis Cardinals.
	03/07/2024	St. Louis Cardinals Prospects activated RHP Ian Bedell.
	04/05/2023	Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Ian Bedell.
	04/05/2023	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Peoria Chiefs.
	09/05/2022	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to FCL Cardinals from Peoria Chiefs.
	08/23/2022	Peoria Chiefs sent RHP Ian Bedell on a rehab assignment to Palm Beach Cardinals.
	08/12/2022	Peoria Chiefs sent RHP Ian Bedell on a rehab assignment to FCL Cardinals.
	04/08/2022	Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Ian Bedell on the 10-day injured list.
	09/20/2021	Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Ian Bedell from the 60-day injured list.
	06/12/2021	Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Ian Bedell on the 60-day injured list.
	05/13/2021	Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Ian Bedell on the 7-day injured list.
	04/30/2021	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Cardinals Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Cardinals Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Cardinals Organization.
	02/12/2021	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Cardinals Organization.
	06/27/2020	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to State College Spikes.
	06/27/2020	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to State College Spikes.
	06/26/2020	St. Louis Cardinals signed RHP Ian Bedell.
	02/22/2020	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to Missouri Tigers.
	04/01/2018	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to University of Missouri Tigers.
	08/08/2017	RHP Ian Bedell assigned to PG West.