Copper Hjerpe's Injury Hits Cardinals' Pitching Hard
southpaw pitcher prospect of the Cardinals is set for a season-long absence
Oof! The freakin' St. Louis Cardinals' pitching woes aren't letting up, and it's driving us mad! Let's dive into the latest setback that's got our blood boiling: lefty phenom Cooper Hjerpe, their 2022 first-round pick, is off the mound until at least mid-2026 thanks to Tommy John surgery.
Hjerpe had been on the injured list before this revelation, and the bloke ain't had the best luck with his health throughout his pro ball career. After signing with the Cards, he underwent elbow surgery just two months later. Not long after his promotion to Double-A Springfield in '24, he tweaked his elbow again. When on form, Hjerpe's been a sight to behold, flaunting a 3.27 ERA across High-A and Double-A in '25 and striking out a whopping 76 batters in 52.1 innings. But this latest injury leaves him having pitched just 93.1 innings since his drafting.
A Familiar Story in Memphis
It ain't just Hjerpe's health that's been iffy, Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews, two of the Cardinals' shining pitching prospects, are also out—and it ain't looking good for their returns. Hence is cooling his heels on the 60-day injured list, while Mathews' busy on the 7-day IL. The word on the street about their comebacks is a no-go.
We've seen this movie before with Alex Reyes, a high-octane pitching prospect whose career took a nosedive thanks to injuries. Although Hjerpe's talent can't hold a candle to Reyes', this string of injuries ain't encouraging. Even with Tommy John surgery's high success rates these days, many pitchers don't fully bounce back once they've had it.
A Debilitating Blow for the Cards
Critics were grumbling after Miles Mikolas' awful start on April 6, which saw him cough up 11 hits and 8 earned runs in 2.2 innings. But now that the pitching depth in Memphis is withering away faster than a summer sunset, those gripes might just turn into sighs of relief. Michael McGreevy's one of the few arms the Cards can rely on if tragedy strikes the big-league rotation.
The Cardinals' pitching's shown signs of improvement after a shaky start in '25, and their newly conceived six-man rotation could help preserve the health of their aces. But with three highly decorated young guns falling to injuries for what appears to be an extended period, the team's pitching depth's being pushed to its limits.
Extra Info
- Cooper Hjerpe: Due to Tommy John surgery, Copper Hjerpe is expected to sit out the entire 2025 season.
- Quinn Mathews: Mathews' struggling performance (6.10 ERA and 15 walks in 10.1 innings at Triple-A) alongside shoulder soreness have led to his placement on the injured list.
- Tink Hence: Tink Hence landed on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique strain.
The nagging injuries to these top prospects significantly affect the Cardinals' pitching depth and overall campaign strategy. With all three out for an extended period, the team faces a tough task in formulating a strong rotation and bullpen, leaving their major league staff looking less than remarkable and raising questions about long-term development and performance.
- Cooper Hjerpe, the lefty phenom and 2022 first-round pick for the St. Louis Cardinals, will be sidelined until at least mid-2026 due to Tommy John surgery, dealing another blow to the team's already struggling pitching.
- Further troubling the Cardinals' pitching depth is the prolonged injury of Tink Hence, who landed on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique strain, and Quinn Mathews, currently on the 7-day IL with shoulder soreness.
- In light of the mounting injuries, concerns are growing over the long-term development and performance of the Cardinals' pitching staff, as their prospect pool has been significantly affected, leaving their major league rotation looking less than impressive.
- The extended absence of Hjerpe, Mathews, and Hence casts doubt on the Cardinals' 2025 sports season, as the team faces a daunting task in formulating a strong rotation and bullpen with these top prospects out for an extended period.
