ST. LOUIS — A revolution in the Cardinals rotation is quietly underway, and its name is Michael McGreevy. At just 25 years old, the hard-throwing right-hander is from insider prospect to franchise cornerstone – all while sending an unmistakable message about the future of baseball in St. Louis: this isn’t a flash in the pan. This is a dynasty in the making.
McGreevy’s meteoric rise may still feel surreal. Once flirting with long relief appearances and spot starts, he finished the 2025 season as one of the most consistent young arms in the league. Over 12 starts, he assembled a 4.17 ERA and posted elite numbers like a 48% groundball rate – a signal that even without overwhelming strikeouts, he’s mastering the art of efficiency on three pitches.
But what’s even more breathtaking is McGreevy’s mindset heading into next season. He told the Post-Dispatch that his goal this offseason isn’t just improvement — it’s transformation. “I’m strengthening everything — adding velocity, sharpening my pitches, building the body to handle high-leverage innings,” he said. It’s a statement few rookies dare to make.
The Cardinals’ front office is listening, too. With veterans like Sonny Gray expected to be traded and Miles Mikolas potentially seeking free agency, the door is opening for McGreevy and fellow young arms Matthew Liberatore, Quinn Matthews, and Tekoah Roby to take the reins of a rotation looking for a new identity. And if one of them can step up into frontline starter status, the Cardinals may validate this season’s barrage of coaching changes and roster shuffles.
A surprise stamp of approval came from one of the greatest pitchers in Cardinals history: Adam Wainwright. A congratulatory text from Goold revealed Wainwright’s signature advice — “Simplify. Stay down in the zone.” — was proudly kept in McGreevy’s locker. Wainwright’s mentorship isn’t just symbolic; it’s a passing of the torch from a future Hall of Famer to a new face ready to carry the mantle.
That mentorship helped McGreevy through adversity this summer. After early struggles where he gave up multiple home runs to San Diego Padres slugger Manny Machado and others, the rookie responded with determined aggression — and eventually delivered one of his most dominant outings of the year, mixing sinkers and sweepers and inducing groundouts. It was a defining moment that shifted perceptions around Cardinals baseball — one teenager’s dream season wasn’t ending; it was just beginning.
As the season wrapped (76–80 and out of playoff contention), Cardinals fans were left disappointed. But there was one name they cheered for louder than any other — and they didn’t even get to see him pitch in October. McGreevy represented hope, renewal, and the franchise’s future — not as a question mark, but as a promise.
The message from one of the organization’s brightest stars: The Cardinals’ future starts now.
And if his meteoric rise is any indication? It’s going to be a headline year in 2026.
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