The St. Louis Cardinals are recalling relief pitcher Ryan Fernandez from AAA Memphis.
Fernandez, 27, was a former Rule 5 draft pick by St. Louis during the 2024 season. His Cardinals tenure started on the right foot when he pitched to a 3.51 ERA in his rookie campaign. Fernandez was a reliable option out of the Cardinal bullpen his entire rookie season. He even racked up two saves.
Unfortunately, his development was stunted when the Redbirds started him off at AAA to begin 2025. He pitched well, posting a 3.12 ERA in 34.2 innings, eventually earning his way back to The Show.
Fernandez’s 2025 at the MLB level was disastrous. In 30.1 innings, his ERA sat above 7 with a WHIP nearing 2. It was safe to say, Fernandez needed a reset. His velocity had plummeted from his debut season, and he was consistently leaving pitches in hitters ‘happy zones.’
The Cardinals weren’t ready to give up on the hard-throwing right-hander. So far, he’s been perfect in 5.1 innings at AAA. Now, he’s positioned to earn big-time innings in a St. Louis bullpen that ranks amongst the worst in the league in 2026. Veteran reliever Ryne Stanek and 2025 standout Matt Svanson have both been riding the struggle bus. If Fernandez can harness some of the 2024 version of himself, he should help settle the storm.
Cardinals DFA Recently Acquired Southpaw
In a corresponding move to the addition of Fernandez, St. Louis DFA’d relief pitcher Jared Shuster.
In his 3.2 innings of work, Shuster held an ERA just under 5 and hadn’t shown much promise. He lacked strikeout potential, and the Cardinals have made it known they’re chasing upside. This trend has been advertised in the additions of starting pitcher Dustin May and Stanek.
Shuster has logged over 145 big league innings since his debut with the Braves in 2023. His best season came in 2024, when he twirled 73.1 innings of reliable baseball for the White Sox.
To this point in his career, Shuster has capped out as an innings eater. The Cardinals simply opted for the arm with presumably more upside. Fernandez throws harder, and when right, his cutter is a plus pitch that induces whiffs and soft contact.
A Tone Shift in The Lou
St. Louis has kicked off 2026 in good spirits. Most analysts had the Redbirds clawing for even 75 wins. Now, they look to be positioned to fight for a .500 record. With that being the case, there’s no time for President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom to mess around.
Cardinal fans had been clamoring for change for some time. Since the departure of former POBO John Mozeliak, that’s all they’ve received. This move signifies the inhospitable environment the Redbirds are creating for mediocrity. With the breakout of Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt continuing to settle in at the highest level, the Cardinals want their arms to get on board.
Treading water is no longer an option for the Birds on the Bat. It’s time to fall or fly.
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