The St. Louis Cardinals are navigating the early days of the season with a rotation that's holding steady, albeit without fireworks.
The starting five are the expected crew, yet there's already chatter about potential shake-ups as the season progresses. Beyond the buzz surrounding spring standout Richard Fitts, the Cardinals have a wealth of talent eager to climb the ranks.
Enter Hunter Dobbins, who made a notable impression during his rehab start with Memphis.
This offseason, Chaim Bloom initiated a strategic overhaul, trading veteran players for promising young arms. The deal that brought Sonny Gray saw the Cardinals acquiring Fitts, and in another savvy move, Bloom secured Hunter Dobbins from the Red Sox in exchange for Willson Contreras. At the time, Dobbins was recovering from an ACL tear, but his brief major league stint hinted at his potential as a future rotation asset.
Now recovered from his knee injury, Dobbins is back in action with Memphis. While there was some debate about easing him in as a reliever, keeping him in the rotation seems wise. After being limited in spring, Dobbins is now fully engaged in game scenarios and is poised to be a key component of the Memphis rotation, with an eye on joining the Cardinals later this year.
Dobbins' first regular season outing was a solid start. On a rehab assignment, he has 30 days to prove his health and wait for a spot on the major league roster.
The 26-year-old right-hander showcased his powerful fastball over five innings, striking out three and conceding just three hits. One of those hits, unfortunately, was a homer to former Cardinal Jose Barrero.
All runs were scored in a challenging third inning before he recorded an out. Despite walking two, Dobbins demonstrated resilience, retiring the side in order in the subsequent innings, aided by a clutch strikeout-throwout double play to close his fifth frame.
Memphis secured the win, marking a successful return for Dobbins.
The Cardinals chose the rehab assignment route to preserve one of Dobbins' two remaining option years. After 30 days, they'll face a decision: activate him to the major league roster or keep him in Memphis, using an option.
The performance of the pitching staff could simplify this choice, but if they remain healthy and effective, Bloom might opt to keep Dobbins ready in Memphis. The upcoming month will likely establish a hierarchy for potential call-ups, should the need arise in St.
Louis.