Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Promote Ex-Marlins 24-Year-Old Ahead Of Friday's Matchup Vs. Phillies

St. Louis is giving a youngster another shot at the big leagues
Nate Hagerty|
Aug 10, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Roddery Muñoz (71) pitches against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Aug 10, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Roddery Muñoz (71) pitches against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsMiami MarlinsPhiladelphia Phillies

The St. Louis Cardinals have much more to prove but through 12 games, their youth-laden core is performing much better than critics predicted before the season began.

Although the Cardinals are 5-7 and 2 1/2 games behind the hated National League Central rival Chicago Cubs, the offense has been red hot due to strong starts from youngsters Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Brendan Donovan and Victor Scott II.

If it weren't for the pitching staff's poor production to start the year, St. Louis would likely be at the top of its division. Hopefully, the newest addition to the Cardinals' arsenal helps turn things around, whether in the rotation or bullpen.

"Right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz has been recalled from Memphis (AAA)," the organization announced Friday afternoon hours before hosting the NL East foe Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium -- first pitch is at 7:15 PM Central Standard Time. "RHP Chris Roycroft has been optioned to Memphis."

Muñoz logged a 2-7 record with a 6.53 ERA, 70-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .272 batting average against and a 1.58 WHIP in games played throughout 82 2/3 innings pitched for the Miami Marlins in 2024.

After struggling across his debut with Miami last season, Muñoz was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals in Nov. 2024 and hopes to translate his spring training success to the show with St. Louis this year.

The Dominican Republic native posted a 2.57 ERA with a 10-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .160 batting average against and a 0.86 WHIP in seven innings pitched for the Cardinals this spring.

Despite being used as a starting pitcher for the Marlins last year, it seems that the Cardinals plan to use Muñoz somewhere in their floundering bullpen, which ranks 24th with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 51 innings.

Sadly for Roycroft, he failed to live up to expectations after living out his dream of being on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster this season. Perhaps spending time with Triple-A Memphis will help the aspiring big-league hurler earn his way back to St. Louis' relief core.

More MLB: Cardinals Red-Hot Offense Poised To Ruin $172 Million Phillies Hurler's Friday Night

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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