With Opening Day just around the corner, teams are ramping up for the new season—but injuries are inevitable. Unfortunately for the St. Louis Cardinals, they’ve already been hit with a setback at their spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida. Reports has emerged that relief pitcher will be sidelined for at least 3-4 weeks due to a torn lat muscle on his left side, according to Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold on X (formerly Twitter).
“Zack Thompson has a tear in his lat muscle on the left side,” Goold posted. “Will be away from throwing for 3-4 weeks, then reevaluated, says #stlcards.”
While the Cardinals have the bullpen depth to absorb Thompson’s absence in the short term, losing him is still a blow. A former first-round pick, Thompson has developed into one of manager Oli Marmol’s most reliable relievers. Now, pitchers like Gordon Graceffo and John King will need to step up alongside closer Ryan Helsley. For a team navigating a transitional phase, losing a key bullpen piece like Thompson only makes the road ahead more challenging. Can St. Louis overcome this early setback and start the season strong?
Cardinals’ Bullpen Takes a Hit as Season Nears
Despite undergoing significant changes within the organization, the Cardinals’ ultimate goal remains the same: reach the postseason and contend for a World Series. While that may be a tall order this season, Marmol and his squad won’t back down. Meanwhile, new head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom continues to put his stamp on the franchise, signaling that more changes could be on the horizon to return St. Louis to October baseball.
Still, Thompson’s absence for several weeks is a tough loss, especially for a team expected to play in its fair share of tight, low-scoring games. His experience would have been invaluable in the bullpen, but this situation could also open the door for young arms like Graceffo and Matthew Liberatore to prove themselves. The Cardinals have a long history of success, and while this season may bring growing pains, a return to postseason form could be just around the corner—perhaps as soon as 2025.