The next generation of St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers has provided plenty of reasons for optimism heading into next season.
With Sonny Gray likely to be traded this winter and Miles Mikolas expected to depart in free agency, the Cardinals appear ready to give their young pitchers — Michael McGreevy and Matthew Liberatore — an extended opportunity in the rotation. Top prospects Quinn Matthews and Tekoah Roby could also join the mix as the team transitions toward a younger core.
Among that group, McGreevy stands out as the most balanced blend of proven major-league experience and untapped potential. The 25-year-old posted a 4.42 ERA over 95 2/3 innings, though a few rough outings inflated those numbers; overall, his performance was close to league average.
Even with a solid rookie campaign, McGreevy isn’t content. In a recent interview with Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he emphasized that his offseason focus is on improving across the board.
“Just strengthening everything that I have,” McGreevy said. “It’s a mix of everything — getting stronger, adding a little more velocity, sharpening pitches, and building my body to handle a full big-league season. I’ve done it in the minors, but the innings up here are more high-leverage.”
McGreevy’s 8-4 record and 1.25 WHIP highlight his consistency, and his impressive 48% ground-ball rate suggests he can be effective even without elite strikeout numbers. Still, improving his swing-and-miss stuff will be key to his long-term success.
As the Cardinals enter a crucial development year, McGreevy’s progression into a potential top-of-the-rotation starter would be a strong sign that the team’s rebuild is on the right track.
