The St. Louis Cardinals have added another experienced arm to strengthen their organizational pitching depth, signing a former highly regarded prospect with Major League potential.
The club announced it has signed right-handed pitcher to a minor league contract after his impressive stint in independent baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs. He has been assigned to Triple-A Memphis, giving the Cardinals another experienced arm just one step away from the big leagues.
“We have signed RHP Durbin Feltman to a minor league contract and assigned him to Memphis (AAA),” the Cardinals announced. “The 29-year-old joins the organization after posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 5 Saves across 13 appearances with the American Association’s Kansas City Monarchs this season, where he was recently named a West Division All-Star.”
Cardinals Add Another Bullpen Option
Bullpen depth has been an ongoing focus for St. Louis, and the addition of Feltman provides another experienced option within the organization. The move comes shortly after the Cardinals promoted Luis Gastelum, continuing their efforts to strengthen the pitching staff.
There is also familiarity between Feltman and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Feltman was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and Bloom joined Boston’s front office in late 2019, remaining with the organization through the 2023 season.
Coming out of TCU, Feltman was viewed as one of the top relief prospects in his draft class. After posting an outstanding 0.74 ERA in 18 appearances during his final collegiate season in 2018, many evaluators believed he could move through the minor leagues quickly and reach the majors ahead of many of his draft classmates.
His professional career began just as impressively. Across Low-A, Class-A and High-A in 2018, Feltman recorded a 1.93 ERA over 22 appearances, reinforcing the belief that he could become a fast-rising bullpen arm.
His momentum slowed in 2019, however, as he posted a 5.26 ERA in 43 Double-A appearances. The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his development further.
Feltman rebounded in 2021, compiling a 2.96 ERA over 39 outings between Double-A and Triple-A, but he was never able to earn a promotion to the major leagues.
Over the next two seasons, he spent time in both the Red Sox and Athletics organizations without reaching the majors. More recently, he revived his career in independent baseball before catching the Cardinals’ attention with his dominant performance for the Monarchs.
At 29 years old, Feltman still offers upside as an experienced reliever, making him a low-risk addition for St. Louis. Minor league contracts carry little financial commitment, giving the Cardinals flexibility if the move doesn’t pan out while also providing valuable pitching depth during a demanding stretch of the season that has included a doubleheader and a heavy workload for the organization.
If Feltman continues his strong form at Triple-A Memphis and eventually earns his first opportunity in the majors, the signing would represent a worthwhile investment for the Cardinals. For now, St. Louis has added another intriguing arm to its bullpen pipeline with virtually no downside.