{"id":70435,"date":"2024-04-12T15:02:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T19:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=70435"},"modified":"2024-04-12T15:02:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T19:02:02","slug":"tekoh-roby-cardinals-prospect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/04\/12\/tekoh-roby-cardinals-prospect\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals Hope Their Highly Touted Prospect Can Be an Ace"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been years since a mid-season callup bolstered the St. Louis Cardinals starting rotation. That could change this season. For years, it seemed the Cardinals always had a pitching prospect with ace potential up their sleeve in the minors. However disappointing results from recent high-level prospects have made the minor league pitching well appear dry.\u00a0<\/span>Postseason runs for the Cardinals in the previous decade were highlighted with impressive late season debuts. <\/span><\/p>\n

It includes the likes of Shelby Miller<\/a> in 2012, Michael Wacha<\/a> in 2013, and Luke Weaver<\/a> in 2014. However, disappointment lingered from high level prospects after the trio of pitchers made their debuts. Mathew Liberatore\u2019s 2023 campaign and the failure to develop Jordan Hicks<\/a> into a regular starter<\/a>, coupled with the sudden injury-plagued falloff of Jack Flaherty<\/a>, have left the Cardinals starting rotation as a major problem of late for the organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tekoah Roby<\/strong><\/strong> is a High Hope From 2023 Deadline Returns<\/h2>\n

Despite trying to solve their starting rotation issues with the splash signing of Sonny Gray<\/a>, bringing back Lance Lynn<\/a> and taking a flier on Kyle Gibson<\/a>, the Cardinals rotation still has question marks heading into the season. A large part of that is the bad luck of Gray\u2019s spring training injury<\/a>, but even with Gray returning<\/a> the Cardinals should look for strong and consistent out of their starters. But could one of the trade deadline deals from last season provide the Cardinals with those answers?<\/span><\/p>\n

Potentially the best chance to make a mid-season rotation impact is Cardinals No. 2<\/a> prospect <\/span>Tekoah Roby. Roby has big league stuff without a doubt, flirting with 99 mph on his fastball when healthy. The 2020 draft pick came to the Cardinals from the Texas Rangers with the Jordan Montgomery<\/a> deal at the 2023 trade deadline. He sports good off-speed stuff to match his fastball with a four-pitch arsenal including a straight downward curveball, a low-80s mph slider and a decent changeup. In 43 minor league games, the right-hander owns a 7-16 record with a 4.45 ERA and 233 strikeouts in 190 innings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tink Hence<\/strong><\/strong> is a Bigger Question Mark<\/h3>\n

Cardinals top prospect <\/span>Tink Hence<\/a> is a bigger question mark, but has undeniable talent. Hence is the 61st overall prospect and the club’s top prospect according to MLB.com<\/a>. He has earned that spot based off a plus fastball and a plus changeup. Another heat thrower, Hence has the potential of hitting 99 mph with his fastball while pairing it with a mid-80s changeup with a 63 percent whiff rate in Double-A. Hence does have a curveball and slider in his arsenal as well, however a tendency to hang them has gotten him in trouble in the minors. Unlike Roby, Hence is also relatively inexperienced.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcome back, Tink Hence!<\/p>\n

Began the night retiring 14 in a row. Final line: 5.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 3 K pic.twitter.com\/29RESt0OtX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n