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Tink Hence Tink Hence Likely shifting to relief role
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 10:56 AM
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that Hence will remain on a reliever's schedule for the remainder of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The club has not officially closed the door on Hence being a starting pitcher, but signs are pointing to a permanent move to the bullpen for the 23-year-old. A former top-50 prospect, Hence has simply been unable to stay healthy as a starter, as he has yet to reach 100 innings in a season in his five years in pro ball. The righty was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement. Hence struck out one batter in a scoreless inning Tuesday out of the bullpen in his first appearance this spring. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Making spring debut Thursday
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 10:49 AM
Herrera (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday at designated hitter, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Herrera has been slow-played by the Cardinals this spring after having surgery in November to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. While he is ready to go with the bat, it's uncertain when he will be cleared to catch in games. Herrera is attempting to return to catcher after the elbow issue and defensive concerns limited him to designated hitter for the final few months of last season. |
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Michael McGreevy Michael McGreevy Fans two over two frames
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 9:28 AM
McGreevy was charged with one run on two hits over two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League start versus the Marlins. He struck out two without issuing a walk.
Analysis: Jakob Marsee led off the game with a home run off McGreevy, though the pitcher noted after the contest that he was mistakenly given scuffed-up batting practice balls to use to the first hitter, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. McGreevy settled in after that, retiring six of the final seven batters he faced (two via strikeout). McGreevy has a spot in the St. Louis rotation locked up after authoring a 4.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 58:20 K:BB over 95.2 innings last season. |
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Andre Pallante Andre Pallante Incorporating kick-change
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 9:16 AM
Pallante was charged with one run while fanning two batters over two innings Tuesday versus the Nationals in his first Grapefruit League outing.
Analysis: Pallante didn't give up a hit, but the Nats plated a run against him in the first inning on a walk, a stolen base, a wild pitch and an error. The righty has been working on a kick-change and threw four of them in the start, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pallante noted that the kick-change is "nothing like anything I throw" and is "going to be really good" when he has a feel for the pitch. The hope is that it helps Pallante -- who has a career 16.2 percent strikeout rate -- miss more bats. Pallante is competing for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation following a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw him post a 5.31 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 111:62 K:BB over 162.2 innings covering 31 starts. |
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Yohel Pozo Yohel Pozo Gets start at first base
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 8:36 AM
Pozo drew a start at first base in Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Pozo got one start at first base for the Cardinals last season and has played there a decent amount in the minors. Proving he could be a backup to Alec Burleson at the position would give him a better chance to make the Opening Day roster, as the Cardinals have a crowded depth chart at catcher. |
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Tink Hence Tink Hence Making spring debut Tuesday
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 12:27 PM
Hence will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: It will be the first game action since last July for Hence, who had another injury-shortened 2025 campaign in dealing with a lat strain and shoulder impingement. The Cardinals plan to keep Hence in a starting pitcher role for now, but an eventual move to the bullpen can't be ruled out if he's unable to improve his durability. The 23-year-old has yet to reach 100 innings in a pro season. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Bullpen session Tuesday
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 12:20 PM
O'Brien (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: It will be the first time O'Brien has thrown from the mound since he went down with a minor right calf strain a week ago. The injury is expected to prevent the reliever from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but O'Brien should not have trouble ramping up in time for Opening Day if he can avoid setbacks. |
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Brycen Mautz Brycen Mautz In mix to fill relief role
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 6:10 PM
Mautz is under consideration for a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster in a relief or hybrid role, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Mautz was added to the 40-man roster this offseason following a breakout year as a starter at Double-A Springfield, where he posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 134:33 K:BB over 114.2 innings. JoJo Romero is locked into one left-handed bullpen spot for the Cardinals, but he remains a trade candidate, and even if Romero stays put the team likely has at least one other lefty spot up for grabs. Mautz could fill that slot or be used in a hybrid role that would allow him to also make some spot starts. However, the most likely scenario is the southpaw opens the season in the Triple-A Memphis rotation to continue his development as a starting pitcher. |
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Chris Roycroft Chris Roycroft Works on regaining arm angle
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 11:28 AM
Roycroft worked this offseason at Premier Pitching Performance in the St. Louis area to return his arm angle to what it was in 2024, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Roycroft's arm angle dropped four degrees in 2025, per Baseball Savant, which the reliever believes was the main cause of his struggles (7.84 ERA in 20 appearances). The 6-foot-8 righty's arm angle was higher during a scoreless appearance Sunday versus the Astros in Grapefruit League play. Roycroft is competing for a middle relief role in the St. Louis bullpen. |
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Nathan Church Nathan Church Homers in spring debut
Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 10:01 AM
Church went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Saturday versus the Nationals in his spring training debut.
Analysis: He started the game in center field and took southpaw Shinnosuke Ogasawara deep in the second inning. Church could get significant reps in left field for the Cardinals early on in the season while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is out before eventually settling into a fourth outfielder role. The 25-year-old had a .504 OPS in 27 games with the big club in 2025, but slashed .329/.386/.524 with 13 home runs and 16 stolen bases at Triple-A Memphis. |
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Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman Should still win third base job
Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 9:37 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday after the signing of Ramon Urias that the roster addition wouldn't "get in the way, substantively, for the opportunities for (Gorman)," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The 25-year-old infielder is in line to be the team's primary third baseman in 2026, and that won't change even after Urias was brought aboard. Urias does offer a short-side platoon partner for the lefty-swinging Gorman and is also a superior defender, so he'll get reps versus lefties and could handle third base while Gorman is used at designated hitter. Gorman is looking to bounce back from a two-year drought at the plate, having slashed just .204/.284/.385 with a 35.7 percent strikeout rate over that stretch. |
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Zak Kent Zak Kent Designated for assignment
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 12:50 PM
The Cardinals designated Kent for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: Kent returned to St. Louis from Texas on Monday via waivers, but he will once again lose his 40-man roster spot -- this time to make room for Ramon Urias. Kent broke into the majors for the first time last season and turned in a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 17.2 innings with the Guardians. |
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Jose Fermin Jose Fermin Will get look in outfield
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 9:59 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Fermin, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Fermin is an infielder by trade, but he's seen a bit of action in the outfield in the majors and at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old slashed .283/.377/.417 in 70 appearances with the big club and .300/.428/.485 with a 45:25 BB:K at Triple-A Memphis in 2025. Fermin could see more of an opportunity at the big-league level in 2026 as the Cardinals go through a rebuild. |
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Thomas Saggese Thomas Saggese More time in outfield likely
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 9:50 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Saggese, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Saggese has never played the outfield in pro ball, but he's been working out there during spring training and could see starts in the outfield, especially against lefties. The 23-year-old also figures to see some starts at designated hitter, or in the field while others are getting a DH day. Saggese has hit only .250/.292/.336 with a 28 percent strikeout rate in his first 100 games in the majors. |
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Ramon Urias Ramon Urias Inks deal with St. Louis
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 7:21 AM
Urias signed a major-league contract with the Cardinals on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The 31-year-old Urias was spotted in the clubhouse ahead of the team's first Grapefruit League game. He will provide the Cardinals with defensive versatility, as he can play all around the infield. Urias is eligible at second and third base, but he is coming off his worst offensive season to date, having slashed just .241/.292/.384 in 112 games between Baltimore and Houston in 2025. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Out for WBC with mild calf strain
Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 9:57 AM
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that O'Brien will be shut down for a few days due to a mild right calf strain, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It will take a couple weeks for O'Brien to ramp things back up, so it will be at least the beginning of March before he's ready to pitch in spring training games. O'Brien is also now unlikely to pitch for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, though he will remain in the player pool in case there's a chance he can be added later. The injury could also affect O'Brien's chances at opening the season as the Cardinals' closer. He is in the mix for saves with JoJo Romero and perhaps Matt Svanson. |
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Lars Nootbaar Lars Nootbaar Beginning stages of running program
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 1:14 PM
Nootbaar (heels) has been able to hit and throw without issue but is just now getting into the stage of being able to run unaided, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Recovering from surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels, Nootbaar's arrival in Cardinals camp was delayed until Wednesday as the team awaited the delivery of an altered gravity treadmill. The outfielder said Wednesday that he does not have a timeline for a return, but the consensus is that he will begin the season on the injured list. Once healthy, Nootbaar will be the club's everyday left fielder. |
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Hunter Dobbins Hunter Dobbins Hopes for full clearance Wednesday
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 8:29 AM
Dobbins (knee) will travel Wednesday to visit a doctor in Wisconsin, where he hopes to be fully cleared for spring-training activities, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Recovering from last July's right ACL surgery, Dobbins has thrown bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions with the rest of the Cardinals' pitchers, but his fielding and running has been limited. As long as he gains clearance Wednesday, Dobbins should make some Grapefruit League appearances for St. Louis. However, the late start likely takes him out of the Opening Day rotation competition. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Works with outfielders Tuesday
Tue, Feb 17, 2026, 9:31 AM
Herrera (elbow) did outfield drills in Cardinals camp Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The catchers were working on pop time drills and throws to second base, something Herrera is not yet cleared for as he returns from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. The plan is for Herrera to return to catcher in 2026 after the elbow issue limited him to designated hitter for the final few months of last season. He did play four games in left field in 2025, and if catching doesn't work out, Herrera could give the outfield a try again or possibly first base. |
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Riley O'Brien Riley O'Brien Nursing sore calf
Tue, Feb 17, 2026, 9:31 AM
O'Brien is managing calf soreness that is being evaluated Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: It's unclear exactly how O'Brien sustained the injury, but it puts his availability in question for Team South Korea for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. After recording six saves and six holds with a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB over 48 innings last year, the 31-year-old righty is expected to be in the mix for saves to begin the year for St. Louis. |
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