Last season, the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching staff was a model of health, with not a single major league starter hitting the Injured List.
However, their promising pitching prospects weren't as fortunate. Tekoah Roby, Tink Hence, and Cooper Hjerpe faced various injury setbacks, and as of now, Roby and Hjerpe are still sidelined.
Fast forward to spring training, and it seems the injury bug has returned with a vengeance for the Cardinals' pitching prospects.
Since the start of spring training, Pete Hansen, Ixan Henderson, Brandon Clarke, and Riley O'Brien have all been struck by injuries. Hansen is cautiously entering a throwing program after dealing with soreness in his left shoulder.
Henderson is currently out with a left flexor strain. Clarke is on the mend from shoulder surgery due to an aneurysm and won't be back in action until June.
Meanwhile, O'Brien is dealing with a mild right calf strain that might keep him out of the World Baseball Classic, but he's expected to be ready for the season's start.
The Cardinals' current injury woes can be traced back to their acquisition strategy. Players like Tekoah Roby, Brandon Clarke, and Cooper Hjerpe were brought in through trades or drafts at lower costs due to their injury histories. Clarke's medical chart includes Tommy John surgery in 2019, thoracic outlet syndrome in 2022, a shoulder stress fracture in 2023, and blister issues last year.
Roby has also had his share of setbacks, missing time in 2021 with an elbow issue and dealing with shoulder injuries in 2023 and 2024. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2025 and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season.
Hjerpe, another talent with a lengthy injury history, had Tommy John surgery in April 2025. Prior to that, he underwent surgery in 2023 to remove loose bodies from his elbow and was shut down in July 2024 due to another elbow injury.
This is the gamble with players who have high potential but are injury-prone. While their ceilings are high, the risk of recurring injuries is always present. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Chaim Bloom was proactive this offseason, acquiring a mix of pitchers like Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Brandon Clarke, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Jurrangelo Cijntje to bolster their ranks.
At the major league level, the Cardinals still boast considerable depth with pitchers like Dustin May, Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy, Richard Fitts, and Hunter Dobbins. Quinn Mathews is poised for action from Triple-A Memphis, and Brycen Mautz and Liam Doyle might make their debuts this year. However, the injuries to top prospects do add a layer of complexity to the depth chart.
Chaim Bloom's efforts to strengthen the Cardinals' pitching depth are being put to the test early on, but the team remains well-equipped to handle these challenges.