The St. Louis Cardinals are embarking on a clear rebuild this offseason, but they're not throwing in the towel on competitiveness just yet.
A pivotal figure in their upcoming campaign is right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien. After a standout 2025 season, O'Brien is poised to share closing duties and make a mark on the international stage-although those plans have hit a snag.
Cardinals skipper Oli Marmol announced that O'Brien has sustained a mild right calf strain, sidelining him from representing Team Korea in the opening round of the World Baseball Classic. Despite this setback, O'Brien remains on Korea's roster with hopes of joining in the later rounds if his recovery allows.
The Cardinals' bullpen configuration for 2026 remains a work in progress, but O'Brien's role is expected to be significant. Last season, he posted an impressive 2.06 ERA, racked up 45 strikeouts, and maintained a 1.146 WHIP over 48 innings. The team is understandably cautious with his health, meaning he'll miss the early WBC action.
Korea's group includes the reigning champions, Japan, featuring stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With such formidable opponents, Korea will need all the pitching prowess it can muster. While former MLB All-Star Hyun Jin Ryu adds strength to their starting rotation, the bullpen's depth is under scrutiny, especially with O'Brien's current situation.
Should Team Korea advance to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, there's hope that Riley O'Brien will be ready to contribute on the mound.