The Cardinals are in the midst of a crisis, in fourth place in the National League Central Division, behind the Cubs, Brewers and Reds, with just 54 wins.
But their bad news is not limited to the mound, as new setbacks have also emerged from the minor leagues: Tekoah Roby, one of the team’s most promising prospects, underwent Tommy John surgery that will likely keep him out of action until 2027, according to The Athletic.
Tekoah Roby is an American professional baseball pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization
The 23-year-old right-hander, acquired in 2023 from the Texas Rangers, was showing clear signs of progress.
After a solid performance with a 2.49 ERA in Double-A and a recent promotion to Triple-A, he seemed to be on the verge of making the jump to the Major Leagues. However, injuries, especially to his elbow, have again slowed his progress.
Tekoah Roby a promising but injury-prone player
This is not the first time Roby has faced physical problems, but this surgery represents his most serious injury so far.
Since joining the Cardinals, the youngster has pitched just 110 innings due to constant visits to the injured list. Even so, his talent did not go unnoticed: a renewed combination of pitches, including an improved slider and a more effective sinker, positioned him as a strong card to reinforce the rotation.
The news of his absence until 2027 is a blow to an organization that is already dealing with a structural pitching problem, both at the major league level and in the minor leagues.
The loss of Roby deepens a crisis that highlights the limitations of the club’s pitcher development system.
Cardinals transfer rumors
With Roby out of the picture in the short and medium term, the Cardinals face a complex situation heading into the trade deadline.
While they could trade veterans like Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton or Steven Matz, there is consensus that certain names should remain out of any trade conversation.
Players like Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn and Nolan Gorman represent the young core around which the team’s future should be built. They all offer long-term contractual control and tools that are difficult to replace in the market
With Roby’s absence, the margin for error for the Cardinals is even smaller, and every decision in the coming days will be key to determining whether St. Louis can get back on track or remain stuck in a cycle of broken promises and patched-up rotations.
Read the full article here
