The Cardinals are taking a low-risk flyer on a former first-round pick, signing left-hander Jared Shuster to a minor league deal with an invite to major league camp this spring. It’s the kind of move that doesn’t make headlines in December but could quietly factor into the club’s pitching depth story come March.
Shuster, 27, was selected in the first round by Atlanta back in 2020 and has since seen time in the majors with both the Braves and the White Sox. Across parts of three big league seasons, he’s logged 141 2/3 innings with a 5.27 ERA - not exactly the kind of stat line that jumps off the page. But there are some intriguing pieces under the hood that the Cardinals may be hoping to tap into.
At 6-foot-3, Shuster has shown an ability to limit hard contact. Opponents average just 87.7 mph on balls off the bat against him, with a 34% hard-hit rate - both respectable marks that suggest hitters aren’t squaring him up often.
The challenge? He’s struggled to miss bats and command the zone.
His strikeout rate sits at just 15.5%, well below league average, and he’s walked hitters at a 10.1% clip. That combination has made it tough for him to find consistent success at the big league level.
Shuster’s arsenal includes a four-seam fastball that sits in the 90-92 mph range when he’s starting, paired with a slider and changeup that come in around the low 80s. Interestingly, when he transitioned to a full-time relief role last season, his fastball ticked up to an average of 92.6 mph - a small bump, but one that could be meaningful if the Cardinals see him as a bullpen option.
And that’s where things get interesting. St.
Louis has some open competition on the pitching staff, both in the rotation and in relief. Right now, the projected rotation includes Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Dustin May, and Kyle Leahy - a group with potential but not a ton of proven durability.
Andre Pallante is also in the mix, though he’s bounced between starting and relieving in the past.
That means Shuster will have a real shot to carve out a role if he shows something in camp. Whether that’s as a depth starter, a long reliever, or even a lefty specialist, the door is open. He’ll need to sharpen his command and show he can generate more swing-and-miss, but the raw tools - particularly his ability to keep hitters from barreling the ball - give him a foundation to build on.
For the Cardinals, this is a classic depth play with potential upside. If Shuster can take a step forward with his control or find a gear as a reliever, he could end up being more than just a spring training arm. And for a team looking to solidify its pitching staff heading into 2026, those kinds of moves can quietly pay off.