Injuries Begin to Shape the Cardinals’ Roster Picture

The Cardinal Chronicle
The Trainer’s Table: Injuries Begin to Shape the Cardinals’ Roster Picture
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Spring training is where roster battles begin to take shape, but it is also where the first injuries of the season quietly influence those decisions. As the Cardinals continue their work in Jupiter, several players are navigating setbacks that could impact both the Opening Day roster and the club’s early-season depth.

Here is the latest from around the Cardinals’ medical report.

Iván Herrera (C)
Herrera was scratched late from Saturday’s lineup due to knee inflammation. Manager Oliver Marmol is taking a cautious approach, allowing 24 to 48 hours of rest before a full evaluation. With Herrera temporarily sidelined, Yohel Pozo has drawn increased attention and appears to have the inside track as the club’s third catching option following recent roster trims.

Lars Nootbaar (OF)
Nootbaar continues his deliberate recovery from offseason surgery on both heels to correct Haglund’s deformities. While he has progressed to hitting and throwing activities, he has only recently begun a running program. Though the club has not officially ruled him out, it is becoming increasingly unlikely he will be ready for Opening Day. In the meantime, Thomas Saggese and José Fermín are both seeing time in the outfield as the Cardinals evaluate temporary options.

Hunter Dobbins (RHP)
A key piece of the offseason trade that sent Willson Contreras to Boston, Dobbins is still working his way back from a torn right ACL suffered last July. According to a report from Rob Rains of the St. Louis Sports Page, Dobbins continues to make progress and is scheduled to throw five innings in a controlled setting later this week as he moves closer to game action. In Rains’ words, “Dobbins is nearing the point where the Cardinals can start thinking about getting him back on a mound in competition.”

Riley O’Brien (RHP)
O’Brien made his spring debut on March 8 after missing time with a mild right calf strain that also forced him to withdraw from Team Korea’s World Baseball Classic roster. The right-hander appears to be past the worst of the injury and is trending toward being available when the regular season begins.

Zack Thompson (LHP)
Thompson remains on a long-term throwing progression following left shoulder surgery last August. The Cardinals recently reassigned him to minor league camp so he can continue building arm strength in a controlled setting. His return to game action is not expected until well into the regular season.

Ixan Henderson (LHP)
The young left-handed prospect was shut down earlier in camp with a left flexor strain. He has been reassigned to minor league camp where he will continue his rehabilitation away from Grapefruit League competition.

Long-Term Absences

Tekoah Roby (RHP)
Roby underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2025 and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. The Cardinals optioned him to Triple-A Memphis earlier this month so he can continue his year-long recovery program while remaining within the organization’s development structure.

Brandon Clarke (RHP)
Clarke is expected to be sidelined until at least June following surgery to address an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder. The Cardinals will take a cautious approach as he works back toward full strength.

The Outlook

At this stage of spring training, most of these situations fall into the category of caution rather than crisis. However, the availability of Lars Nootbaar and Iván Herrera could have the most immediate influence on roster decisions as Opening Day approaches. Meanwhile, the progress of pitchers like Hunter Dobbins and Riley O’Brien will be closely monitored as the Cardinals evaluate their early-season pitching depth.

 
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This one reads like a classic beat-writer medical notebook, Ray—clean, informative, and authoritative. Perfect for a recurring Chronicle feature.