When the Cardinals made a move Wednesday to clear a starting spot for one of their young right-handed arms, the open roster spot cleared a lane for another righty to get a run in the majors after a first look that left the Cardinals eager to see more of.
Along with starter Michael McGreevy slotting into the big-league rotation after Erick Fedde was designated for assignment, right-hander Andre Granillo returned to the majors to fill the roster spot left open by Fedde’s DFA. He continued the effective start to his big-league career upon his return.
Granillo threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings and notched one strikeout while working around two hits and a walk in a Wednesday loss against the Rockies. The scoreless outing lowered the 25-year-old Granillo’s ERA in the majors to 1.08 across his first 8 1/3 innings since his call-up near the middle of June.
Cardinals pitcher Andre Granillo throws in the seventh inning against the Reds on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
“He (Granillo) just takes the mound and goes about his business as if he belongs, which he does,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on Thursday from Busch Stadium before the Cardinals opened a four-game series vs. the Padres. “He’s done a really nice job in Triple-A. Obviously, the strikeout rate is through the roof, but his time here has been — he’s just poised. He’s under control, and he does what gives him success.
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Following his return to the minors on June 22, which came when the Cardinals needed a fresh right-handed arm from the bullpen, Granillo logged 6 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven batters in six appearances for Memphis. He allowed two hits in that stretch and secured one save as he returned to the minors with “even more confidence,” which he credited to his faith in God and path through the minors as a former 14th round pick in 2021 MLB draft.
“You go to every level and you get to High-A, and you’re like, ‘Well, I did good in Low-A, but now I’ve got to prove it in High-A,” Granillo said. “And the same thing, you get to Double-A, and then you get to Triple-A and then now I’m at the big leagues. I just think it’s building that confidence that every single time that I’ve had bad stints, I’ve gone out there and had five runs and didn’t get it out, and it sucks. And you go back and you contemplate, like, ‘Do I belong at this level?’ Then you just realize, like, you’re here for a reason.”
The mix of relievers in the Cardinals bullpen that includes relievers who can work shorter stints and provide multiple innings allows the Cardinals flexibility to use Granillo in shorter bursts if Marmol looks to use the rookie right-hander as such.
Coming through the minors as a reliever, Granillo has a 3.64 ERA in 239 2/3 innings over 178 appearances. He’s struck out 32.1% of the batters he’s faced through his career in the minors, provided length out of the bullpen, and had opportunities to close games at every level he’s pitched at as he’s pitched through ups and downs over his career.
“When I had those games where I would go out and give up five and not get an out. I never felt like they (the Cardinals) gave up on me,” Granillo said. “They handed me the ball in the next save situation the day after. They kept doing it. They put me out there. They threw me to the wolves. They moved me fast. I was in Triple-A within my second year in pro ball, and I struggled. They put me back in there. They always believed in me, and I think that that adds on to the confidence aspect, because if they could believe in me, then I should believe in myself as well.”
Shildt returns to Busch
Back in ӣƵ for the second time since he took over as manager of the Padres, former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt could not help but spend some time reflecting on his nearly two decades with the Cardinals.
“It was my first opportunity to get into professional baseball, and I never thought I’d have a chance to manage here,” Shildt said. “I’m very blessed in that regard.”
Across 18 years, Shildt went from an area scout and coach in the Cardinals’ system to minor league manager and eventually a coach in the majors before taking over as manager during the 2018 season. Shildt managed the Cardinals to three postseason berths and was the National League’s manager of the year in 2019 before he was released after the club’s elimination from the 2021 postseason.
He was hired as manager of the Padres ahead of the 2024 season.
“There is some scar tissue about how things ended, but that’s life,” Shildt said. “I’m in a really good spot here, and things happen for a reason.”
On the mend
Lars Nootbaar (left costochondral sprain) continued taking swings Thursday by hitting off a tee and through soft toss. Nootbaar began his swing progression with soft toss and tee work Wednesday while the Cardinals were in Colorado. He said he has been able to go through baseball activities and has responded well as he nears a rehab assignment, which could begin as early as next week.
Marmol said Nolan Gorman (lower back pain) could also begin a rehab assignment by next week.
Zack Thompson (left shoulder strain) could begin a throwing program next week, Marmol said. Thompson has been sidelined since the start of March and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in early April.
