The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching depth took a significant hit this week as promising right-hander Richard Fitts underwent season-ending surgery to repair a right lat injury. The news, confirmed by Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom on Friday, brings an abrupt end to what had been a stellar start to the 2026 campaign for the 26-year-old prospect.
Fitts, who was acquired by St. Louis in a high-profile offseason trade, had recently been placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis. While the initial hope was for a shorter recovery period, subsequent testing revealed the need for a surgical procedure to address the strain in his right latissimus dorsi muscle. The surgery effectively sidelines Fitts for the remainder of the 2026 season and could potentially impact his availability for the start of spring training in 2027.
A Dominant Start Derailed in Memphis
Before the Richard Fitts injury occurred, the right-hander was making a strong case for a major league promotion. In three starts for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds this season, Fitts had posted a perfect 2-0 record with a stifling 1.76 ERA. Over 15.1 innings of work, he showcased the command that made him a coveted asset, striking out 11 batters while walking only six.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol expressed disappointment over the timing of the injury, noting that Fitts was a player the organization was counting on to contribute at the big-league level this year. "He did really well, and it’s someone that we definitely were going to count on providing some innings and helping when the time presented itself this year," Marmol told reporters. "Really unfortunate because it’s someone that we definitely would have liked to see and just a really good competitor."
The Significance of the Sonny Gray Trade
The loss of Fitts is particularly notable given the context of his arrival in St. Louis. He was a centerpiece of the November 2025 trade that sent veteran ace Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox. In exchange for Gray, the Cardinals received Fitts, left-hander Brandon Clarke, and cash considerations—a move signaling the organization's focus on building long-term pitching depth during a rebuilding phase.
Fitts brought major league experience to the Cardinals' system, having made 15 appearances (14 starts) for the Red Sox over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. During his tenure in Boston, he compiled a 2-5 record with a 3.97 ERA, demonstrating the potential to serve as a reliable back-end rotation piece. His transition to the Cardinals was seen as an opportunity for him to secure a permanent spot in a less crowded rotation, an opportunity now deferred by this Richard Fitts surgery.
Impact on the Cardinals' Rotation Depth
With Fitts sidelined, the Cardinals will have to look elsewhere for rotation reinforcements. The current St. Louis rotation features Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Dustin May, Kyle Leahy, and Andre Pallante. While this group has remained healthy through the early part of the season, the absence of Fitts removes the primary "next man up" from the Triple-A ranks.
The Cardinals' minor league system still features several arms on the 40-man roster, though many are dealing with their own recovery timelines:
- Hunter Dobbins: Currently on a rehab assignment and nearing a return.
- Tekoah Roby: Recovering from Tommy John surgery performed last July.
- Cooper Hjerpe: Also recovering from Tommy John surgery (April 2025).
- Quinn Mathews: A rising prospect currently in Triple-A, though not yet on the 40-man roster.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Despite the season-ending nature of the Richard Fitts surgery, the Cardinals remain optimistic about his long-term future. Chaim Bloom emphasized that the prognosis for a full recovery is positive. "Long-term prognosis should be good," Bloom said. "We’re confident he’s going to bounce back and be just fine, but he’s not going to pitch again this season."
For Fitts, the focus now shifts to a grueling rehabilitation process. Lat injuries are notoriously tricky for pitchers, as the muscle is integral to the deceleration phase of the throwing motion. A successful recovery will be vital for Fitts to reclaim his status as a key part of the Cardinals' future pitching plans when he returns to the mound, likely in the early months of 2027.
Sources & Original Reporting
