Riley O’Brien, a right-handed reliever, is a candidate to play a more significant role in the Cardinals bullpen this season.<\/p>\n
O’Brien, 29, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners before the beginning of the 2024 season. He made the Opening Day roster following a strong performance in Spring Training but was injured for several months as a result of a flexor strain. Ultimately, he missed most of the 2024 season, appearing<\/a> in only 8 games.<\/p>\n However, his velocity and power movement indicate that he might be able to rebound successfully in 2025.<\/p>\n O’Brien was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2017 Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. After bouncing around multiple organizations, he made his major-league debut as a starter with the Cincinnati Reds.<\/p>\n Although he has only 10.1 major-league innings under his belt, O’Brien’s minor league statistics have shown promise. In his last full season 2023, with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, he posted a 2.29 ERA in 55.0 IP. While this was mostly in relief, he also served as a spot starter for the team, showcasing his potential versatility.<\/p>\n According to Baseball Savant, he features a sinker with an average velocity of 96.8 mph, as well as a slider and a curveball. Both of his breaking pitches show above-average numbers in horizontal movement, and both have the potential to be lethal strikeout pitches for the right-hander.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Riley O\u2019Brien has yet to give up a run in 3 appearances so far this spring. Here are his best pitches from today. pic.twitter.com\/Uvr9gsa4HC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kareem (@KareemSSN) March 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nO’Brien’s Career<\/h3>\n
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