St. Louis Cardinals hire Joel McKeithan

The St. Louis Cardinals have hired Joel McKeithan as their new hitting coach. McKeithan, 35, most recently was the Chicago White Sox assistant hitting coach for 2 seasons (2025-2026). 

Before joining, the White Sox coaching staff, McKeithan was a hitting instructor and coach at Driveline Baseball for 3 years (2016-2018). Driveline and Cardinals assistant hitting coach Casey Chenoweth helped outfielder Joran Walker fix his swing, which helped lead Walker to success in 2026. 

After working with Driveline, McKeithan was hired by the Cincinnati Reds. McKeithan was on the Reds coaching staff for 3 seasons (2022-2024). McKeithan was the assistant hitting coach for 1 season (2022) and then hitting coach for 2 seasons (2023-2024). 

McKeithan also has spent time as the Detroit Tigers minor league hitting coordinator, and as a minor league hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.

McKeithan is the older brother of former Cardinals minor league catcher Aaron McKeithan. McKeithan also used to play for the Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League.

On paper McKeithan should be a good hire by the Cardinals. 
 

St. Louis Cardinals acquire Eduardo Rivera

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera from the Boston Red Sox for starting pitcher Juan Carlos Garcia. Rivera, 23, was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA, 4 games, 3 starts, 10 innings, 10 strikeouts, 6 walks, and a whip of 1.40 in 2026. Rivera made his MLB debut on April 22, 2026, against the New York Yankees. 

In the minors, combined between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, Rivera was 7-2 with a 2.59 ERA, 26 games, 5 starts, 2 holds, 55.2 innings, 71 strikeouts, 30 walks, and a whip of 1.24 in 2026. The wins, games, and holds were all career highs for Rivera.

Rivera had his best season in 2025, combined between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. That season, Rivera was 4-6 with a 2.48 ERA, 20 games, 15 starts, 87 innings, 108 strikeouts, 46 walks, and a whip of 1.16. The starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Rivera. The ERA was also a career best for Rivera. 

In 2024, combined between Low-A Stockton, High-A Lansing, the Florida Complex League, and Low-A Salem, Rivera had a career high (3) saves. 

Overall, Rivera, has played 6 minor league seasons. Rivera is 14-18 with a 3.56 ERA, 89 games, 43 starts, 2 holds, 3 saves, 267.2 innings, 326 strikeouts, 150 walks, and a whip of 1.35. 

Rivera ranked as the Red Sox 18th best prospect. Rivera has a fastball that is 93-96 miles per hour and can reach 98.

Garica, 18, was 2-4 with a 4.40 ERA, 11 games, 11 starts, 43 innings, 39 strikeouts, 10 walks, and a whip of 1.28 in the Dominican Summer League in 2026. The starts and strikeouts were both career highs for Garica. 

Garica had his best season in 2025. The season, Garica was 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA, 12 games, 10 starts, 47.2 innings, 38 strikeouts, 4 walks, and a whip of 1.09. The wins, games, and innings were all career highs for Garica. The ERA was also a career best for Garica. 

Overall, Garcia has pitched 2 seasons in the Dominican Summer League. Garica is 6-6 with a 3.87 ERA, 23 games, 21 starts, 90.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a whip of 1.18.

The Cardinals pick up an interesting power arm in Rivera. Rivera is good with getting strikeouts but needs less walks. Rivera will probably compete for a bullpen spot in 2027. Former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina also managed Rivera for Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

St. Louis Cardinals claim Chase Hampton

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed starting pitcher Chase Hampton off of waivers from the Washington Nationals. Hampton, 25, was 0-6 with an 8.18 ERA, 17 games, 17 starts, 55 innings, 56 strikeouts, 34 walks, and a whip of 1.78 combined between Low-A Tampa, High-A Hudson Valley, and Double-A Somerset in 2026. 

The Nationals had claimed Hampton off of waivers from the New York Yankees on September 12, 2026.

Hampton had his best season in 2023, combined between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. That season, Hampton was 4-3 with a 4.30 ERA, 20 games, 20 starts, 106.2 innings, 145 strikeouts, 37 walks, and a whip of 1.14. The wins, games, starts, and innings were all career highs for Hampton.

Overall, Hampton has played 3 minor league seasons. Hampton is 4-10 with a 4.89 ERA, 44 games, 44 starts, 180.1 innings, 217 strikeouts, 80 walks, and a whip of 1.33.

Hampton is a former top 100 prospect who returned from Tommy John surgery in May. This season, Hampton reached 92-94 mph on his fastball; in the past that reached 97 mph,

Hampton seems he is a solid lottery ticket pickup for the Cardinals. If Hampton sticks on the Cardinals 40-man roster, could be end up as a reliever? 

The Cardinals 40-man roster now stands at 39. 
 

St. Louis Blues claim Justin Barron

The St. Louis Blues have claimed defenseman Justin Barron off of waivers from the Nashville Predators. Barron, 24, played 52 games with 9 assists, 9 points, and a -1 with the Predators in 2025-2026. 

Barron had his best season in 2022-2023, with the Montreal Canadiens. That season, Barron played 39 games with 4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points, and a -2. The assists and points were both career highs for Barron. 

In 2023-2024, Barron had a career high (7) goals. 

Barron played a career high (62) games in 2024-2025, combined btween the Canadiens and Predators. 

Overall, Barron has played 5 NHL seasons. Barron has played 208 games with 18 goals, 34 assists, 52 points, and a -27. 

Barron is a former 1st round pick (25th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 NHL Draft. 

Barron could be a good pickup by the Blues. 
 

St. Louis Cardinals promote Cooper Hjerpe

 

The Cardinals have promoted starting pitcher Cooper Hjerpe from Triple-A Memphis. To make room for Hjerpe on the active roster the Cardinals have optioned RHP Hancel Rincon to Triple-A Memphis. Hjerpe, 25, is currently 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 games, 15 starts, 42 innings, 61 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a whip of 1.26 combined between the Florida Complex League, Low-A Palm Beach, Double-A Springfield, and Triple-A Memphis.

Hjerpe had his best season in 2024, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. That season, Hjerpe was 2-4 with a 3.27 ERA, 52.1 innings, 76 strikeouts, 28 walks, and a whip of 1.13. The wins tied a career high from 2023 for Hjerpe. The games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Hjerpe.

Overall, Hjerpe is currently in his 3rd minor league season. Hjerpe is 4-8 with a 3.26 ERA, 40 games, 38 starts, 1 hold, 135.1 innings, 188 strikeouts, 85 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

Hjerpe is currently the Cardinals 18th best prospect.

Hjerpe will wear no.56.

Hjerpe will serve as a piggyback behind starting pitcher Kyle Leahy. 

St. Louis Cardinals to promote Hancel Rincon

The Cardinals plan to promote RHP Hancel Rincon from Triple-A Memphis. Rincon, 24, is currently 6-6 with a 4.03 ERA, 42 games, 3 starts, 3 holds, 1 save, 73.2 innings, 90 strikeouts, 31 walks, and a whip of 1.24 combined between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in 2026. The games, holds and save are all career highs for Rincon.

Rincon had his best season in 2024, with High-A Peoria. That season, Rincon was 9-7 with a 3.80 ERA, 24 games, 24 starts, 132.2 innings, 105 strikeouts, 48 walks, and a whip of 1.31. The wins and innings tied career highs from 2023 for Rincon. The starts were a career high for Rincon.

In 2025, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, Rincon had a career high (108) strikeouts.

Overall, Rincon is currently in his 7th minor league season. Rincon is 32-39 with a 3.62 ERA, 150 games, 99 starts, 4 holds, 1 save, 599 innings, 553 strikeouts, 182 walks, and a whip of 1.19.

Rincon's nickname is "El chchillo", which in English means "the Knife".

Rincon is expected to join the Cardinals on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Rincon will wear no.66.

 

St. Louis Cardinals to promote Leo Bernal

 

The Cardinals plan to call up catcher Leo Bernal from Triple-A Memphis. Bernal, 22, is currently hitting .278 with 67 runs, 104 hits, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs, 77 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, and 51 walks in 2026. The batting average, runs, hits, home runs, RBI's, and walks are all career highs for Bernal.

In 2024, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, Bernal had a career high (2) triples.

Bernal had career highs in both doubles (19) and stolen bases (13) in 2025, with Double-A Springfield. Bernal also won the 2025 Minor League Gold Glove Award at catcher.

Overall, Bernal is currently in his 6th minor league season. Bernal has played 485 games with 263 runs, 448 hits, 88 doubles, 7 triples, 55 home runs, 306 RBI's, 37 stolen bases, 221 walks, and a .257 batting average.

Bernal currently ranks as the Cardinals 7th best prospect.

Bernal is expected to make his MLB debut on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bernal will wear no.13.