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St. Louis Cardinals Prospects: Baseball America Ranks Shelby Miller No. 1

Baseball America ranks the Cardinals' former first round pick as the franchise's top prospect.

By Bradley Woodrum
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 10: U.S. Futures All-Star Shelby Miller #19 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning during the 2011 XM All-Star Futures Game at Chase Field on July 10, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 10: U.S. Futures All-Star Shelby Miller #19 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning during the 2011 XM All-Star Futures Game at Chase Field on July 10, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Baseball America has released their rankings of the Top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals system, ranking right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller No. 1:

1. Shelby Miller, RHP
2. Carlos Martinez, RHP
3. Oscar Taveras, OF
4. Zack Cox, 3B
5. Kolten Wong, 2B
6. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP
7. Lance Lynn, RHP
8. Eduardo Sanchez, RHP
9. Matt Adams, 1B
10. Jordan Swagerty, RHP

In 2011, Miller pitched 86 and 2/3 innings in Double-A, sporting an impressive 2.70 ERA and 2.73 FIP. Baseball America ranked Miller the No. 13 overall best prospect in the MLB before the 2011 season, and after a strong showing in 2011, the former first-round pick is likely to only improve.

Carlos Martinez is a 19-year-old hurler out of the Dominican Republic who made it to High-A in 2011. He struggled in his 10 starts with the Palm Beach Cardinals (A+), so he figures to return to High-A at the beginning of 2012.

Coming in at No. 3, slugging outfielder Oscar Taveras hit an impressive .386/.444/.584 slash to go with 8 homers in his time with the Quad City River Bandits (A). Taveras, also a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic, may reach or even start the season at Double-A in 2012.

For more updates and analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, check out Viva El Birdos. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news on all matters St. Louis sports.