As if things weren’t already difficult enough for St. Louis Cardinals fans, the team has received another tough blow: one of their top pitching prospects is now sidelined until the 2027 season.
According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo and Keith Law, promising right-hander Tekoah Roby underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. The procedure typically requires a lengthy recovery process, and Roby isn’t expected to return to the mound until 2027.
Woo shared the update on social media, citing multiple sources confirming the news.
Tekoah Roby’s Tommy John surgery is a massive blow to the Cardinals’ future.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ string of bad luck with pitching injuries just got worse, as Tekoah Roby has become the third top pitching prospect in the organization to undergo Tommy John surgery this year. He joins Cooper Hjerpe and Sem Robberse on the shelf, all of whom have had their seasons cut short. On top of that, 2024 third-round pick Brian Holiday also had an undisclosed season-ending surgery, and both Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence have battled various injuries throughout 2025.
Despite a deeper and more promising group of pitching prospects than the Cardinals have had in recent years—and with several showing progress this season—the injury wave has been relentless. New president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom will have a major challenge ahead in managing the current crop of arms while also reinforcing the pipeline.
#STLCards pitching prospect Tekoah Roby underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday and will likely not pitch until 2027, multiple sources tell The Athletic.
More here with @keithlaw: https://t.co/7KxgNrtmOP
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) July 28, 2025
Keith Law of The Athletic noted that he had been considering Roby for his updated top 60 prospects list. The right-hander had been performing at a high level, showing mid-rotation upside and nearing a major league debut. But Law held off when he heard whispers that surgery might be looming.
Before the injury, Roby posted a 3.10 ERA across 16 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, striking out 87 batters in 78.1 innings. He was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the 2023 deadline deal that sent Jordan Montgomery to Texas.
The Cardinals did bolster their pitching depth in the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting lefty Liam Doyle with the No. 5 overall pick. Doyle is already considered a top 70 prospect by Baseball America and landed in Keith Law’s top 30. Other arms—like Michael McGreevy, Ixan Henderson, Braden Davis, and Brycen Mautz—have also performed well this year, and additional talent such as Tanner Franklin and Cade Crossland came aboard via the draft.
According to team president John Mozeliak, the Cardinals aren’t focusing on any particular player type ahead of the trade deadline, though they may prefer prospects who don’t need to be added to the 40-man roster right away due to roster crunches. Still, expect them to pursue pitching depth in any deals. The rash of injuries in the minors has underscored the value of having as many quality arms as possible.
While the major league staff has remained relatively healthy, the injuries on the farm have thrown a wrench into long-term plans—particularly for 2026, where Roby was projected to potentially join the big league rotation. Now, the Cardinals will have to adjust and adapt once again.
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