If you've been keeping an eye on the St. Louis Cardinals this season, you already know they've been one of the National League Central's biggest surprises. Sitting at 22-15 and just 3.5 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, the Redbirds are playing with a confidence that few expected from a team many pegged as a rebuilding project. But here's the thing—they might not be done surprising us yet.

Down in Triple-A, a young slugger is making a serious case for a promotion, and it could come sooner than you think. Meet Blaze Jordan, the Cardinals' first-base prospect ranked 25th in their farm system. Don't let that ranking fool you: Jordan is playing like a top-tier talent right now. Through the early part of the season, he's slashing an impressive .320 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs. That adds up to a .969 OPS—good for seventh-highest in the entire International League.

To put that in perspective, the New York Yankees just called up their own top prospect, Spencer Jones, who was tearing it up with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His OPS? A still-impressive but slightly lower .958. If the Yankees saw enough in Jones to give him the call, it's hard to argue the Cardinals shouldn't do the same for Jordan.

At just 23 years old, Jordan looks primed and ready to face big-league pitching. With the Cardinals already exceeding expectations, adding a hot bat like his could be the spark that pushes them from surprise contender to legitimate threat. Manager Oli Marmol might want to pick up the phone before the upcoming series against the Cubs—a chance to make a statement against the division leaders with a new weapon in the lineup.

Whether you're a Cardinals fan or just love seeing young talent get their shot, Blaze Jordan is a name you'll want to remember. And if you're looking to gear up like the next big thing in baseball, keep an eye on our latest arrivals—because this kid could be wearing a big-league uniform very soon.