10 players the St. Louis Cardinals could call up down the stretch

RHP Michael McGreevy

After Winn, McGreevy is probably the second most exciting prospect to watch down the stretch. Taken in the first round of the 2021 draft, McGreevy has worked his way through the Cardinals' system quickly. Now 23, he's on the doorstep of the majors. In 16 AAA starts, McGreevy is 7-2 with a 3.83 ERA. He's primarily a ground ball pitcher, but his fastball has taken a big step forward over the past year. He's added velocity, significantly improving his chances of landing a spot in the 2024 rotation.

McGreevy throws four pitches and is known best for his control. However, his walk rate is slightly elevated this season. The most concerning roadblock he will face is his 40-man status. He shouldn't worry too badly. With so many pitchers out the door, it does seem likely that McGreevy will land one of those coveted roster spots.

In the event that he does, expect to see him pitch by the end of the season. Even if he isn't added to the 40-man roster immediately, McGreevy may convince the Cardinals to give him a shot soon. This will almost certainly function as an audition for the 2024 rotation, where an effective McGreevy could be a strong back-end starter.

LHP Connor Thomas

The biggest factor working in Thomas' favor is his status as a member of the Cardinals' 40-man roster. Thomas showed flashes of brilliance in the Arizona Fall League following an uninspiring 2022 campaign with Memphis. His success was attributed to a new cutter, and Thomas seemed poised to join the big league club early in 2023.

Unfortunately, he has regressed significantly. He's arguably been worse this year than last year, and he's already 25. But, Thomas is a member of the Cardinals' 40-man roster. As such, he is much more accessible than some of their other options. If he's going to get an opportunity to start in St. Louis, it's probably going to occur this season.

The possibility that Thomas could move to the bullpen remains open as well. That may be his only route to the big leagues if he is passed over down the stretch in 2023.

RHP Guillermo Zuñiga

Ok, so I'm cheating a bit. Zuñiga technically debuted back in May. But that was just one scoreless inning, and he hasn't been with the big league club since. After hitting the IL early in the summer, Zuñiga has recovered.

Like Thomas, Zuñiga benefits significantly from the fact that he is indeed part of the 40-man roster. Also like Thomas, his biggest problem is his lack of production in the minors. In 23 games with Memphis, Zuñiga has been awful. He has an ERA of 9.15. Fortunately for him, he has strikeout potential. The Cardinals will want to learn more about how he can contribute in 2024, but the season-long struggles are cause for hesitation. His accessibility and age make him a strong candidate for a call-up.

2B Richie Palacios

I'm cheating again. Palacios reached the majors last season with Cleveland, however, he played a minimal role and still has not debuted for the Cardinals. He was traded over the offseason for cash considerations. Among infielders, Palacios has the best chance of reaching the majors of anyone not named Masyn Winn. Palacios is 26 and currently ranks outside the top 30 on most organizational prospect lists.

He's had a strong year, though he's generally demonstrated competence at the plate, evidenced by his career .845 OPS. Palacios won't hit for a lot of power, he has just 25 career homers, but he has solid on-base skills and an advanced approach at the plate. Palacios could play in the majors immediately if called upon.

Most importantly, Palacios is part of the 40-man roster. The Cardinals likely view Palacios as a depth piece, but have demonstrated an unwillingness to let similar players leave for nothing. Thus, he stands at least some chance of holding onto his roster spot over the offseason. In the near term, however, he is likely to be called upon. With DeJong out the door, Donovan shut down, and Gorman questionable due to back pain, Palacios could play in St. Louis as soon as this week, especially if the Cardinals are cautious with Winn.

Palacios' biggest competition for playing time will come from Taylor Motter, who has drawn several starts with the big league squad over the last week. Motter's advantage is his positional flexibility, but his poor offensive performance may encourage the Cardinals to give Palacios a chance.

OF Moisés Gómez

Moisés Gómez has done nothing but mash since coming to the Cardinals organization. In 2022, he was the minor league home run king, as his 39 led all players at all levels. He posted a .994 OPS and hit nearly .300. Gómez was unstoppable. There was reason to think he'd make the jump to the majors. That did not happen. This year, he's taken a slight step back but has still been key to Memphis' success. Gómez has 23 homers, ranking second on the team. His OPS is much lower, though still a respectable .759.

Gómez has nothing left to prove in the minors. The Cardinals know who he is as a player. He has light tower power but strikes out frequently. Just how frequently he strikes out will determine whether Gómez has a successful career in the big leagues or not.

He's on the 40-man roster, which will help his case for playing time, although he'll have to contend with a ton of other guys for plate appearances. The other point in his favor is his age. Gómez is just 24. He likely won't see any time in the outfield, but he may get a shot at DH. It will be interesting to see whether the Cardinals call upon Luken Baker instead. If not for this positional logjam, Gómez would likely rank much higher on this list.

LHP Drew Rom

The Cardinals acquired Rom from the Orioles in Tuesday's Jack Flaherty trade. Rom now ranks 26th on the Cardinals' top 30 prospects list. This year with Baltimore's AAA affiliate, Rom struggled to the tune of a 5.34 ERA. Hopefully, a change of scenery will mean more success for the lefty.

Rom will probably start at Memphis, but could quickly join the big league club. He was added to the 40-man roster immediately after being acquired, which gives him a leg up on other options, such as McGreevy or Loutos. While Wainwright, Matz, and Mikolas will not be vacating their spots, there are two openings in the rotation. Additionally, Wainwright is set to retire in the offseason. The Cardinals hope to identify at least one member of the 2024 rotation over the next 60 games. It is likely that several players will receive an audition.

Rom is firmly in this group of players. If he isn't extended an opportunity this season, he will receive one in Spring Training next year.

RHP Ryan Loutos

Loutos' name was tossed around quite a bit last offseason after his 2022 breakout. Many thought he could force his way into the major league bullpen. He has one of the best fastballs in the Cardinals' system. Unfortunately, 2023 hasn't gone the way he planned. Loutos has been knocked around and now has an ERA of 5.79. His walk rate has ballooned this season, though he has at least continued to generate strikeouts.

Loutos is a high-octane arm and, if he gets right, could be an asset for the Cardinals in 2024. He has more swing-and-miss than most pitchers in the system.

With three relievers now pitching for different teams, Loutos could get the call this season. Unfortunately for Loutos, he is not currently on the 40-man roster. The Cardinals may be hesitant to add him, especially if they think he can help in the future. It will be significantly easier to retain him if he stays off the roster through the offseason.

RHP Gordon Graceffo

Graceffo is one of the most exciting prospects in the system. He's just 23 years old and has held his own in AAA. After breaking out in 2022, many thought he may join the big league club at some point this season. A six-week stay on the IL threatened to derail his season, but Graceffo is healthy again. He has multiple plus pitches, including his fastball and his slider, and has a much higher ceiling than most prospects in the system. Graceffo could someday pitch near the front of the rotation.

Unfortunately, that is unlikely to start now. The Cardinals know Graceffo is immensely talented, and they're likely to continue to treat him with caution. They absolutely view him as a starter, so they probably won't want to move him to the bullpen, even if it helps the big-league club in the near term. He isn't on the 40-man roster and it doesn't seem likely that they add him this season.

Perhaps if Graceffo had remained healthy all season, the Cardinals would be more inclined to give him a shot. Instead, it's likely that Graceffo remains in AAA for the rest of the season and enters 2024 with a legitimate chance to lock down a rotation spot. He will, barring unforeseen circumstances, definitely debut at some point in 2024.

RF Chase Pinder

Chase Pinder is having a really nice season for the Memphis Redbirds. He's currently hitting .272 with an OPS of .821. Pinder is also getting on base at an elite rate, evidenced by his .426 OBP. There's almost no power in his game, but he's walked more than he's struck out this season. Pinder has advanced plate discipline and forces opposing pitchers to play on his terms.

The problem for Pinder is his age. This is compounded further by the Cardinals' incredible outfield depth. At 27, he is considered a non-prospect. Most players of this age are not prioritized by their organizations. Instead, the opportunities go to younger players with more upside. Fortunately for Pinder, the Cardinals aren't very good right now. The fact that these next 60 games probably won't matter levels the playing field for Pinder and other older guys. His strong season may convince the Cardinals to at least give him a cameo.

His age may work for him too. At 27, Pinder isn't going to be highly valued by other clubs. He could be added to the 40-man for a brief stretch, then dropped completely. This would be similar to Kramer Robertson's treatment in 2022. Pinder is a long shot to play for the Cardinals in 2023, but he deserves a chance.