JUPITER, Fla. – With spring training nearing its midpoint, the St. Louis Cardinals haven’t fully committed to a starting rotation for the new season just yet. Experience will likely lead the way, though rookie Michael McGreevy is doing his part to push for a big-league starting role.
McGreevy made a strong first impression at the big-league level last year, earning three wins and posting a 1.96 ERA over 23 innings. That included a statement MLB debut (7 IP, 1 ER) against the then-defending champion Texas Rangers and an even stronger season finale (8 IP, 1 ER) against the San Francisco Giants.
This spring, McGreevy has picked up right where he left off, retiring 15 of 16 hitters he has faced, keeping opponents scoreless over five innings, and generating plenty of ground-ball outs.
McGreevy knows a rotation spot isn’t guaranteed, but he’s building the mindset of a regular big-league starter this spring.
“It’d be great,” said McGreevy on the possibility of a rotation spot. “If it was up to me, I’d be starting Opening Day, but that’s just not my decision to make. It’s the coach’s decision. I come in here trying to compete for a job, but at the same time, just be who I am. It’s not in my control to make that decision, but it is in my control to go out and compete every day.”
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has taken notice, praising McGreevy’s command and approach. On Thursday, Marmol noted he’s “competing in the zone” and “doing exactly as advertised when it comes to living on the ground.”
Still, the Cardinals haven’t finalized a starting rotation for the new season, and the decision may come down to the final days of camp, depending on performances and health. As it stands now, a five-man rotation to open the season would likely feature Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz and Andre Pallante, if all remain healthy.
With limited spots available, the Cardinals must decide whether fits best in the big-league rotation, the bullpen, or at the minor-league level to continue his development as a starter. Regardless, the 24-year-old McGreevy is determined to prove he can be a reliable option when needed.
In a one-on-one interview with FOX 2 on Thursday, McGreevy discussed his journey to the big league, his spring training mindset and his ambitions for his future in the Cardinals organization.
Q&A
Question: What’s your mindset for this spring training after gaining MLB experience last year?
McGreevy: “Definitely feel more comfortable now than I did in past spring trainings. I know everybody’s name now. Don’t have to be intimidated as a minor-league player that got invited. I know everybody in the building. I have a good routine I can stick with, and other people know how I go about my business, so that’s good to have.””
Question: What kind of personal goals of expectations have you set for yourself in 2025?
McGreevy: “I never really have too many personal goals, especially nothing stats wise. I try to stay healthy. I want to make every start this year. Take the ball every fifth day. Give the team the best chance to win.
I think when I’m up every fifth day, I’m just sticking to my routine. Definitely was off to a slow start last year in the minor leagues. Thank goodness for the minor leagues because of that, but I know I can’t have a slow start for the St. Louis Cardinals. I’m going to try to hit the ground running.”
Question: What’s worked well during your first two starts of spring training?
McGreevy: “Just sticking to my game. The first game, the debut when I got up there, I was telling myself, ‘Don’t make the moment too big. Be who you are. Trust your stuff. You got here for a reason.’ And it seemed to work out well, so I let it ride. Each time I took the ball in Colorado or San Francisco, it was the same old thing, ‘Be me. Be me.’ and that worked out well.”
Question: Which teammates have been helpeful in acclimating to the big leagues?
McGreevy: “My high school teammate Andre Pallante has been a huge help. Helping me if I have any questions. He’s there to talk to me. He’s a young guy, so he’s still going through it as well. It’s good to have someone that you’re not too timid to talk to. They’re not a 10-year vet like Matz, Mikolas or Sonny, but it’s a guy who’s been around the block here, knows what he’s doing, has had success, but is still learning as well.”
Question: How do you feel about the dynamic of this year’s Cardinals team with a young cast, yet several veterans returning from last year?
McGreevy: “I think we’re in a great spot. All you hear about is rebuilding in the offseason, I’m sure that’s all the fans have heard, but I’m super optimistic. I’ve come up with these guys, a lot of young guys on the team. Minor-league guys that are in Triple-A that are going to make impacts this year. We’re in a very good spot, and especially with the young talent that we have, we’re definitely going to be able to build a good foundation for the Cardinals in the future.”
Question: What is your relationship like with fellow Cardinals’ pithing prospect Quinn Mathews?
McGreevy: “Quinn [Mathews] and I grew up in the same area. We played on a club ball team together. Played against each other in high school. Never were the closest of friends, but when we’re playing on the same club ball team, we were like ‘What up, Quinn? What up, Mike?’ When we got drafted, that’s when we got a little closer. To see the success that he has had and to see the type of player he is turning into is so great. Especially being a pitcher, it’s not like he’s an outfielder. I get to hang out with him a lot. When we’re playing catch, it’s good. I always think iron sharpens iron, and a guy his caliber is only going to make me better and hopefully vice versa.”
Question: What are your thoughts about the auotmated balls-strikes (ABS) system in play this spring training?
McGreevy: “I was in Triple-A for about a year and a half [with the ABS system]. In 2023, it was three games with the automated balls and strikes, and the last three games of the week was the challenge system. Three challenges. And last year in 2024, about halfway through the year, they changed it to, it’s just two challenges the entire week.”
“I can tell from experience that if you’re getting all the calls, if you’re clipping the zone with the ABS, you’re having a great day, and if you’re getting every challenge right, you’re having a great day. But some of those days where hitters know the zone like the back of their hand. It gets tough because these hitters just better and better the higher up you go and know their zone, so if you’re not getting off the hook with a strike call that’s maybe a ball off, you’re in for a long day. It definitely makes it tough. I enjoy the human element of it, but baseball is a changing game, and whatever they do is going to be fine, but I hope they stick to the regular strike zone.”
Question: What should fans believe about this year’s St. Louis Cardinals baseball team?
McGreevy: “We’re a young good group. We’re a fairly similar team to last year. We got great pitching. We got good young hitters who are going to make an impact, and we’re going to see some guys have breakthrough years.”
“There’s such good young talent it could last for awhile, building the foundation for the team.”