It has been a pretty devastating spring for top pitching prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals system.
In late March, Tink Hence (Cardinals No. 3 prospect) was placed on the minor league 60-day injured list by Triple-A Memphis with what was reported to be a right rib cage strain. On Monday, Memphis placed left-hander Quinn Mathews (No. 2) on the 7-day list with apparent shoulder stiffness, although Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said the team had no definitive timetable on a return for Mathews.
Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals announced that Cooper Hjerpe (No. 12) will be out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old lefty is expected to return in mid-season 2026.
The recent news is just the latest in a series of significant elbow issues for Hjerpe.
The Cardinals’ first-round draft pick (22nd overall) in 2022, Hjerpe was limited to 41 innings during the 2023 regular season after getting arthroscopic surgery on the left elbow. He did play in the Arizona Fall League later that year, then opened up 2024 with successful stints at High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, but Hjerpe was sidelined in early July with elbow inflammation and would not return.
The skills are undeniable, as Hjerpe has struck out 127 batters in 93.3 minor league innings. But the injury history is uncomfortably reminiscent of Alex Reyes.
Hence has likewise shown a disturbing pattern of being unable to stay healthy. In 2024, Hence’s season was repeatedly disrupted by what mlb.com labeled “a mysterious chest/shoulder injury,” although he was able to strike out 109 batters in just 79.6 innings for Double A-Springfield.
Mathews has no history of major injuries, instead impressing the baseball industry with his durability and reliability at the collegiate level. Mathews only boosted that reputation during his first minor league season in 2024, as Mathews flew through the Cardinals system, playing with four teams and striking out 202 hitters in 143.3 innings to lead all minor league pitchers.
Fingers are crossed throughout Cardinals Nation that this setback for Mathews remains brief.
On the field, Memphis opened up a three-game series at home against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp with a 6-3 win on Tuesday, improving to 8-6. Sem Robberse pitched 5 innings, allowing just 1 unearned run on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts to get the decision. Robberse improved to 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in three starts.
Right fielder Bryan Torres continued his hot start, going 2-for-4 with an RBI to raise his batting average to .424. Left fielder Mike Antico also had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs, as he raised his average to .348.
On Sunday, the Redbirds closed out a rough series at Nashville with a 5-1 win, only their second during the six games at First Horizon Park. Ian Bedell pitched 4 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts. Andre Granillo followed with a pair of scoreless innings to earn the win.
Catcher Jimmy Crooks led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Crooks is batting .286 with a team-high 12 RBIs.
On April 11, Crooks was recognized by the Dynasty Dugout blog as one of the top minor league performers after the team’s 8-3 win at Nashville the previous day. Calling Crooks “one of the more underrated catchers in the minors,” the site noted that Crooks went 3-for-5, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, and drove in 6.
“The Cardinals have a lot of catching talent in their system, but Crooks might be the best of the group,” Chris Clegg wrote. “He is a skilled bat who threw out 33 percent of attempted base stealers. I am watching Crooks very closely this year.”