Cardinals 2025 Spring Training Notes #1
St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The Cardinals have only played eight Spring Training games so far, but a few things are already standing out to me early in camp.
It’s awesome to see MLB continuing to expand Statcast in Spring Training facilities, thanks to the testing of the ABS challenge system. The Cardinals will play all but six of their games this spring in Statcast-tracked parks.
The sample size is obviously limited, but from a pitch data perspective, it’s helpful to analyze changes from previously tracked data—whether it’s the addition of a pitch, a tweak in release characteristics, or something else.
With that in mind, here are some key takeaways from the Cardinals’ first week of Spring Training.
Sem Robberse’s addition of a sinker
Sem Robberse got absolutely shelled in his Spring Training debut, giving up nine runs on nine hits against the Houston Astros last Sunday. There can't be anything positive to take away from the outing, right?
Well, Robberse debuted a new fastball shape—one that profiles much better against same-handed batters. Last year, he threw a cut-ride heater that averaged 15.5” IVB and 3.7” of arm-side run, and that was the lone fastball variant in his arsenal. With that shape, it was hard for Robberse to effectively use the pitch inside to right-handed hitters, allowing them to focus on covering the outer half of the plate.
His new sinker gives him a fastball he can actually use inside to righties, keeping them honest on both sides of the plate. The pitch averaged 92.2 mph with 10.2” IVB and 13.6” of arm-side run on Sunday.
I don’t think this is a pitch that should see much, if any, usage against lefties, as it could take away from the effectiveness of his changeup. Still, Robberse’s arsenal had already profiled better against lefties, so it’s nice to see him add a sinker to help combat right-handed hitters, who had much better success against him in 2024.
Right-handed hitters slashed .319/.356/.497 against him, while lefties managed just .188/.260/.335.
Tink Hence’s release height/extension
I want to preface this by saying I don’t know if this change is intentional. Hopefully, Hence just wasn’t 100% mechanically-speaking and can trend back to his previous Statcast-tracked data.
Hence has always thrown from a higher three-quarters slot but benefits from a low launch. With less extension, it makes sense that his release point would be a tick higher. His fastball can play better than its pure movement profile suggests due to a flatter approach angle, making it crucial for him to regain his previous extension and vertical release.
Hence’s fastball also generated far less horizontal break than typical, with just 5.9” of movement. In his aforementioned 2022 season for Palm Beach, it averaged 12” of arm-side run. If these changes stick, he may need to rely even more on his changeup and bullet slider at the next level.
Tekoah Roby’s loud stuff
Earlier today, I asked the Cardinals Prospects X community “Which cardinals prospect has impressed you the most so far in Spring Training?”
The leading answer was Cardinals right-handed pitching prospect Tekoah Roby, who delivered 2 scoreless innings, punching out 3 hitters in his Spring Training debut last Sunday.
Roby registered a swing-and-miss on all four of his offerings. Though his fastball and curveball get most of the spotlight, whenever he flashes his changeup and slider, it gets me excited. His feel for both pitches is inconsistent, but they have the potential to be legit offerings for him.
It was also nice to see his four-seamer get solid life with 17.7” of vert. The pitch didn’t perform all that well in 2024, especially against right-handed batters.
