Opening Day is fast approaching, and as teams gear up for the new season, injuries are inevitable. Unfortunately for the St. Louis Cardinals, they’ve been hit with a setback in their spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida.
On Sunday, reports surfaced that relief pitcher Zack Thompson will be sidelined for at least 3-4 weeks due to a left lat muscle tear. Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Thompson will be shut down from throwing for that period before being reevaluated.
While St. Louis has the bullpen depth to absorb the loss for now, it’s still a significant blow. A former first-round pick, Thompson has developed into one of manager Oli Marmol’s most reliable relievers. In his absence, pitchers like Gordon Graceffo, John King, and others will need to step up ahead of closer Ryan Helsley.
As the Cardinals transition from one competitive window to the next, losing a key bullpen piece adds an early challenge. The question now is whether St. Louis can overcome this hurdle and start the season strong.
Cardinals bullpen takes big blow as Opening Day approaches
Even with significant organizational changes underway, the Cardinals’ goal remains unchanged: reach the postseason and contend for a World Series title. While this current roster faces a challenging path to that objective, there’s no doubt that Oli Marmol and his team will give it their all.
As new head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom begins to shape the future of this storied franchise, one thing is certain—more changes are coming to help St. Louis return to October baseball.
Still, losing Thompson for several weeks is a tough blow for the Cardinals. With the potential for plenty of low-scoring games this season, having a reliable bullpen arm like Thompson would have been valuable. However, this setback could create an opportunity for younger pitchers like Gordon Graceffo and Matthew Liberatore to step up and prove themselves.
For a franchise as rich in history as the Cardinals, playoff success always feels within reach. Perhaps this transition period will set the stage for another postseason push—one that could begin as early as 2025.
