BREAKING: Nation’s Top High School Prospect, RHP Ethan “The Flame” Thompson, Flips Commitment to St. Louis Cardinals
**ST. LOUIS, Mo.** – In a stunning, franchise-altering decision that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, the St. Louis Cardinals have secured a commitment from the most coveted amateur arm in America. **Ethan “The Flame” Thompson**, the six-foot-four, 215-pound right-handed pitcher from Orange County, California, and the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft class, announced Friday he has informed the Cleveland Guardians—who hold the No. 1 pick—that he will not sign with them and instead intends to enter into an agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The announcement, made during a live broadcast from his high school baseball facility, represents an unprecedented, franchise-defining victory for the Cardinals organization and a seismic twist in the draft’s modern history. Thompson, a generational talent whose fastball has touched 102 mph with elite spin rates and a devastating slider, had been universally expected to be the first overall selection and the cornerstone of Cleveland’s rebuild. His decision to orchestrate a path to St. Louis is the most significant amateur acquisition in Cardinals history.
“This decision is about legacy, development, and becoming part of something bigger than myself,” Thompson stated, donning a Cardinals cap. “I have nothing but respect for the Cleveland organization. But my connection with the Cardinals’ front office, the pitching development staff, and the tradition of this franchise is something special. This is a organization that knows how to develop arms, compete for championships, and honor the game the right way. I want to be part of that tradition. I want to pitch at Busch Stadium.”
This unprecedented flip is the ultimate validation of the Cardinals’ player development infrastructure and organizational culture. While pre-draft maneuvering is common, a consensus No. 1 overall prospect actively forcing his way to a specific franchise—and away from the team holding the top pick—is virtually unheard of. It signals that the Cardinals’ reputation for developing elite pitching and contending annually remains a powerful magnet for the sport’s premier talent.
“This is the most stunning pre-draft development I’ve witnessed in 30 years covering baseball,” declared MLB Pipeline analyst Jim Callis. “For Ethan Thompson, a generational arm and the clear No. 1 player in the class, to effectively tell the Guardians he won’t sign so he can land with the Cardinals is unprecedented. It’s a testament to the reputation of their pitching lab, their big-league track record, and the allure of pitching in St. Louis. This changes the entire dynamic of the draft.”
The move is deeply connected to the Cardinals’ recent investment in cutting-edge player development and their historic track record of maximizing young arms. The opportunity to learn from Adam Wainwright-influenced mentors, to develop within one of the sport’s most stable organizations, and to pitch meaningful games in October proved to be an irresistible combination.
The implications are immediate and profound. Thompson’s commitment instantly transforms the Cardinals’ long-term outlook, providing them with a potential ace to anchor their rotation for the next decade. It serves as a powerful recruiting tool for future elite prospects and signals that St. Louis remains a premier destination despite increased industry competition.
For Cleveland, the loss is historic and devastating. For the St. Louis Cardinals and their passionate fanbase, it is a transformative, franchise-defining moment.
Ethan “The Flame” Thompson is more than a pitcher; he is a symbol of the Cardinals’ enduring prestige and a declaration that in St. Louis, the pursuit of championship excellence remains the only standard. At Busch Stadium, the message is clear: The best arm in America is coming home to Cardinals Nation.
