After pitching a critical shutout performance the pitcher has been optioned back to Triple-A by the St. Louis Cardinals — but he wasn’t surprised. The move was part of a pre-planned roster strategy by the Cardinals, influenced by both upcoming scheduling needs and the impressive showing of fellow pitcher Gordon Graceffo in Cincinnati last week.
He heads back to Memphis to stay ready for a future role in the Cardinals’ starting rotation, while Graceffo is transitioning into a bullpen role with the major league club. His recent velocity spike — topping out at 99 mph with a fastball and 92 with a slider — made him a strong candidate for short, high-intensity relief appearances.
Manager Oli Marmol expressed admiration for Michael McGreevy’s professionalism and readiness, noting that his stint in the majors was always expected to be brief. The move was driven by weekend weather concerns and a need for roster flexibility. McGreevy had been pulled from a scheduled Triple-A start and stepped in for a crucial outing, delivering 5 ⅔ shutout innings in a narrow 5-4 win.
Graceffo’s transition to the bullpen reflects development work done earlier this year, supported by coaching staff and front office personnel. His recent success has the team considering him for higher-leverage bullpen duties, possibly replacing Kyle Leahy and Phil Maton in frequent-use roles.
While McGreevy and Graceffo are on different paths for now, both are seen as valuable contributors. McGreevy is viewed as a long-term rotation piece waiting for his moment, and Graceffo is being tested in a potentially permanent bullpen role, depending on how he performs.