Photo courtesy of PJ Maigi | Springfield Carrdinals
In the wee hours of a damp muggy overnight haze, Luis Gastelum struck out Tulsa Drillers’ shortstop Sean McLain and bedlam ensued as the Springfield Cardinals hugged each other in the infield and a handful of diehard supporters that endured a three-hour rain delay celebrated the Cards’ 3-0 win in 7 innings that sends Springfield to the Texas League Championship Series for the first time since 2012. Springfield made quick work of Tulsa in the best-of-three semifinal series; the Cards never trailed in either game and Tulsa managed just one run over 16 innings, as Springfield held the Drillers 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position – and dominant pitching that was the theme of a historic 88-win season carried into the playoffs.
Springfield’s pair of left-handed aces dazzled – Ixan Henderson tossed six shutout innings in Game 1 and Brycen Mautz blanked Tulsa through five frames in Game 2. Joshua Baez, St. Louis’ Minor League Player of the Month in September, went 3-for-5 with two walks and an RBI in the series. Chase Davis’s late season surge continued too; the Cards’ first rounder in 2023 chipped in with two hits, a run scored, and defensive gems that have become a trademark. But Springfield’s brilliant 2025 campaign is bookended by another pair of St. Louis’ first round picks – JJ Wetherholt and Liam Doyle.
Doyle was drafted No. 5 overall in June and it was not a sure bet the flamethrower from University of Tennessee would pitch live innings at any level this season. But with Springfield and Memphis playoff bound, Doyle ramped up in Florida and pushed to join the fun.
“It’s definitely what I wanted to do, I told plenty of teams that at the combine – I want to go as quick as possible and continue to play baseball this season,” Doyle said. “After the college season, (I) shut down for about two weeks of throwing and was in the process of building back up (when I was drafted) …I knew I wanted to pitch in games, but knew I had to build up more. I threw almost 100 innings in college this year, so a little rest never hurt.”
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2012, YOUR SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS ARE HEADED TO THE TEXAS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. pic.twitter.com/G0nAXj5iEd
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 19, 2025
Doyle pitched two scoreless innings in his debut against San Antonio in the final weekend of the regular season. He threw 30 pitches and 20 for strikes, with three strikeouts. Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado were on rehab assignments with the club that week, offering Doyle an opportunity to watch and learn.
“I take it all in; experience what the guys do here that have had great success – really watch what the pros do, guys like Nolan and Donovan yesterday, just watching how they approach hitting and how focused they are on it. I mean, Nolan walked in here today at noon and the clubhouse didn’t open up until 2:30, so that’s pretty cool.”
Photo courtesy of PJ Maigi | Springfield Cardinals
Game 1 of the Texas League Championship Series is Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field, and it’s likely Doyle will make an appearance in the best-of-three finale. Though Liam arrived just in time to join the playoff run, Springfield Manager Patrick Anderson said the unassuming Doyle meshed quickly.
“He comes up here last week and he throws a couple innings – and he’s pretty electric as you guys have seen – but he sits back and watches and listens, very respectful, and immediately he got from all these players the respect – they understood he wasn’t this kid trying to prove anything. He was just listening and understanding – kind of like, let me get my foot in the door the right way.”
When it was noted that Anderson similarly described Wetherholt – the Cardinals’ 2024 first-round pick that hit for a .300 average with 22 extra base hits in 62 games with Springfield this season – Anderson smiled.
“JJ is unbelievable, that kid is special. He’s one of the most consistent young men I’ve ever been around, in the sense of how he acts and how he goes about his business. (Doyle) is cut from the same cloth.”
