Heredia signed with the Cardinals in January of 2018. Still just 18-years-old, he didn’t play in any official pro games last year in the DSL due to a failed PED test soon after signing. He’s stateside in Extended Spring Training right now, showing enthusing projection and fastball velocity from the left side—though the rest of his game is very crude. Heredia’s athletic 6-foot-3 frame is very projectable, with broad, square shoulders that hint there’s strength left to gain. The fastball touches the 94-95 mph range at best, with an extremely loose arm-stroke that should keep adding velocity. He gets a bit of natural cut on the ball, and it’s not unreasonable to project a lively mid-to-high 90s heater as Heredia grows into his body.

Unfortunately, given nascent-stages control/command and feel to mix off-speed, he’s a ways off from being able to contribute competitive innings at any established level of the minors. Heredia is more thrower than pitcher, leaning on his fastball about 90-percent of the time and scattering the zone. His lone off-speed pitch—a loose, rolling slider that lacks power or sharpness—grades well below-average and will need to take steps forward for him to be a prospect. Heredia fits as a low-level flier just because of the body, youth, and chance for left-handed velocity.