In the world of baseball, few things are as thrilling as watching an overlooked draft pick rise through the ranks and earn a spot on the Cardinals' roster. Every draft pick faces long odds, but for players selected outside the early rounds, the path to a major league career is especially narrow. This week, while considering whether Jalin Flores—a relatively unknown prospect in Peoria—might be the next breakout player headed for Busch Stadium, I found myself reflecting on the Cardinals' remarkable history of finding hidden gems late in the draft.

Of course, Albert Pujols stands as the ultimate example of a late-round steal, but the Cardinals have consistently unearthed valuable contributors beyond the first few rounds this century. While no one expects another Hall of Famer to emerge from the later stages of the draft, St. Louis has proven adept at finding solid role players and even core pieces in the 10th round and beyond. Let's take a closer look at the best late-round picks the Cardinals have made since 2000.

The early 2000s drafts were largely defined by early selections like Yadier Molina and Dan Haren, but the team also found some surprising value in later rounds. With 50 rounds in the draft at that time, the Cardinals selected and signed 12 players from the 10th round or later who eventually reached the majors. Of those, three posted positive career fWAR—a testament to the team's scouting depth.

One notable name is Tyler Johnson, drafted in the 34th round of the 2000 draft. Though his career fWAR was negative and he pitched just 77 big league innings, Johnson left an indelible mark on Cardinals history. During the 2006 playoffs, he held opponents to just one run over 7.1 innings, striking out 12 batters while walking only two. Alongside Randy Flores, Johnson formed an improbable duo of lockdown lefties that anchored the Cardinals' bullpen during their championship run.

Another intriguing story is Terry Evans, selected in the 47th round of the 2001 draft out of Middle Georgia State University. Evans spent years grinding through the lower minors before finally making his mark, a reminder that the path to the majors is rarely a straight line. These late-round finds highlight the Cardinals' knack for spotting talent when others look away—and they're a big reason why the team's draft history is worth celebrating, whether you're a die-hard fan or just love a good underdog story.