Left-handed pitching prospect of the Cardinals facing season-long sidelines
A Hitch in the Cardinals' Pitching Plans
The St. Louis Cardinals are grappling with a setback in their pitching ranks following the news that left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe, the team's 2022 first-round pick, is set to miss action until mid-2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Hjerpe, who was pitching in Triple-A Memphis, had earlier been on the 7-day injured list. His career has been marred by health issues, with surgery on his elbow just two months after signing with the Cardinals in 2022, and another injury in 2024 following a promotion to Double-A Springfield. Despite these adversities, Hjerpe impressed when fit, holding a 3.27 ERA in High-A and Double-A in 2025 and striking out an impressive 76 batters in 52.1 innings. However, this latest injury means he has only pitched 93.1 innings since his draft.
This isn't a new predicament for the Memphis rotation, as top-rated pitching prospects Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews have also been sidelined. Hence finds himself on the 60-day injured list, while Mathews is on the 7-day IL. No definitive timeline for their returns has been set.
The Cardinals are keen to see Hjerpe avoid the pitfalls that plagued Alex Reyes, another high-profile prospect whose career was stalled by numerous injuries. Although Hjerpe's talent doesn't match Reyes' upside, his string of injuries suggests a worrying trend. Even with Tommy John surgery's high success rate in contemporary times, many pitchers fail to fully recover their arsenal after the procedure.
The Cardinals have been the target of criticism for their handling of Miles Mikolas, particularly after a dismal performance on April 6 that saw him concede 11 hits and eight earned runs in 2.2 innings. However, the depletion of the Memphis rotation may eventually validate their decision. Michael McGreevy is one of the few reliable options the Cardinals can call upon if injury strikes their major league rotation.
The Cardinals' pitching has shown signs of improvement post a rocky start to 2025, and their newly adopted six-man rotation could preserve the health of their starters. But with three highly touted young pitchers absent due to injury for an extended period, their depth is being stretched to its limits.
Insights:
Featuring talented yet injury-prone prospects like Cooper Hjerpe, Quinn Mathews, and Tink Hence, the Cardinals' farm system maintains crucial depth for future success. The team's starting rotation boasts solid performances, despite the high ERA of veteran Miles Mikolas. Michael McGreevy represents a potential reinforcement when needed. However, challenges persist as the team navigates the performances of struggling prospects like Quinn Mathews and the reliance on veterans like Mikolas. The team's overall pitching performance remains strong.
The St. Louis Cardinals, despite showing improvement in their starting rotation, are facing a challenge due to the extended absence of highly touted young pitchers like Cooper Hjerpe, Quinn Mathews, and Tink Hence, who are all sidelined. In MLB, where baseball is the sport in focus, Hjerpe, a former first-round pick, is expected to miss significant action until mid-2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
