Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy works in the fifth inning of a game against the Rangers on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
When Cardinals prospect Michael McGreevy rejoined Class AAA Memphis following his MLB debut July 31, the 24-year-old righty returned to the minors with a few milestones checked off.
He left Busch Stadium that day with a win in his first career game, the first three strikeouts of his career and some reinforced confidence in what he could do in the majors.
“It’s everything,†McGreevy said on Wednesday. “When you’re up on the mound and you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can get a guy out,’ you’re probably not going to have a good day. When you know my stuff can play in the zone, get swings out of the zone — it’s everything. It’s all about the conviction up there.â€
Upon his return to the majors, the right-hander will have that memory bank to pull from.
McGreevy rejoined the Cardinals on Wednesday as starter Lance Lynn landed on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation for the second time this season — the first of which led to McGreevy’s first call-up as a spot starter against the Texas Rangers. The rookie spun seven innings of one-run ball in that outing.
People are also reading…
“It was so awesome,†McGreevy said while reflecting on his debut. “I mean, the first one was more like, ‘OK. Cool. I did it.’ But then thinking about it more, it’s like you just want more of that.â€
Back in the majors after nearly seven weeks in the minors, McGreevy will fill a role in the bullpen. That placement comes based on where the Cardinals rotation stands entering the final 11 games of the season.
Marmol said McGreevy could have been a starting option to fill Lynn’s spot in the rotation on Monday, but that possibility did not line up given Lynn’s next turn would have landed on the Cardinals’ off-day Monday.
However, the plans for McGreevy could be altered.
“Ideally, I would have liked to get a start out of him (McGreevy) just so that he can prep properly and just have an outing like that. The way it all plays out at the moment, that’s not what it looks like, but that can change.â€
While in the minors following his debut, McGreevy went 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in seven starts. The former first-round pick from the 2021 MLB draft struck out 42 batters in 40â…” innings and walked eight. He held opposing hitters to a .639 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in that span.
Across the entire minor league season, McGreevy has gone 9-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 150 innings. The righty, whose innings total with Memphis is second across Class AAA, has posted a strikeout rate 14.7 percentage points higher than his walk rate.
“You want that from a confidence standpoint,†Marmol said of McGreevy’s MLB debut. “Him being able to go back down with a taste of it and (that he) did it well, it’s a good feeling. Hopefully being able to draw from that.â€
Lynn’s return season ends
With the IL placement, Lance Lynn wraps up 2024 his season with a 7-4 record, a 3.84 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 117â…“ innings across 23 starts.
Lynn, 37, returned to the Cardinals this past winter as a free agent. The Cardinals have a $12 million option to keep Lynn for the 2025 season or can chose to pay a $1 million buyout that will make the righty a free agent.
“He’s pitched through some real stuff this year,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Lynn. “There are certain outings where I didn’t think he’d be able to take the ball and still would give you five, six innings. It’s impressive, man, but it’s a good example of what it looks like to post. It really is.
“For those young guys to see that you’re not always going to be 100% and there is a difference between having some ache and pain and being injured. He’s able to talk through that well because he’s had to do it for so long. It was fun watching last night.â€
On the day he officially retired as a Cardinal, Matt Adams describes the emotions of returning to Busch, his most famous homer, and his next act in baseball. He wants to manage in the majors. (Video by Derrick Goold)
Adams retires a Cardinal
Former Cardinals Matt Adams, who played in seven of his 10 MLB seasons in the majors in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, signed a one-day contract to retire with the Cardinals.
Adams, 36, was honored before Wednesday’s game with a ceremony that featured a highlight video of his Cardinals career, including his pivotal Game 4 home run off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw that lifted ºüÀêÊÓƵ to a National League Division Series win over Los Angeles.
Adams — a 23rd-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2009 MLB draft — batted .266 with a .760 OPS and 59 homers in 513 games as a Cardinal.
“I love playing here in front of Cardinal nation. ... Every time I come back here, it’s nothing but love, and I’m super-happy to step foot inside the stadium,†Adams said.
Adams has aspirations of managing for his post-playing career.
Extra bases
The Cardinals plan to start Andre Pallante during Sunday’s regular-season home finale against the Cleveland Guardians.
- Class AA Springfield (Missouri) won Game 1 of the Texas League Division Series 4-1 over Arkansas on Tuesday night. Cardinals outfield prospect Chase Davis, who was the club’s first-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft, homered and drove in two runs in the win. Springfield will host Game 2 vs. Arkansas on Thursday at Hammons Field in Springfield.
- Class Low-A Palm Beach’s 8-4 win on Tuesday over Lakeland set up a decisive Game 3 in the Florida State League Championship series. The winner-take-all Game 3 was in a rain delay at the time of this writing.
- Class Low-A Palm Beach manager Gary Kendall was named Florida State League manager of the year after he guided the PB-Cards to a franchise-best 83-47 record and clinched a playoff spot for the third consecutive season since he became Palm Beach’s manager in 2022.
