Cardinals Pitching Prospect Strong in Second Arizona Fall League Start

With little more to do than play catch-pitch over the past 15 months while recovering from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tekoah Roby predicted that his command should be great before returning to game action in the Arizona Fall League action.

Two games in, Roby’s prediction has been as on target as his pitches so far. In 5 2/3 innings of work in the Arizona Fall League, Roby has walked just one batter while striking out nine. Those nine strikeouts are tied for second in the Arizona Fall League – quite the accomplishment for a 25-year-old pitcher working his way back from an injury that disrupted his meteoric rise through the Cardinals Minor League system in 2025.

Six days after debuting in the AFL in grand fashion, Roby made his second start on Thursday and was sharp again. Over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, Roby allowed just two hits and struck out three batters.

Frank Elissalt, who was acquired by the Cardinals from the Mets in the 2025 trade that centered around All-Star closer Ryan Helsley going to New York, pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief on Thursday for Peoria (Ariz.) in its 8-5 loss to Scottsdale. Ellisalt, who missed all of the 2026 season with an arm injury, allowed an earned run, but struck out three in relief on Thursday.  

Showing that his arm is as strong as ever, Roby hit 97.5 mph in the first inning and retired eight of the first nine batters he faced. He opened the game by breaking off an 82.8 mph curveball to catch Bryce Rainer looking for strike three. After allowing a single, Roby induced grounders with an 86.7 mph slider and a 96.3 mph four-seam fastball.

Roby ended the second inning by striking out John Peck with another slider to end a six-pitch at bat. In the third inning, he fooled Luke Davis with a curveball for a third strikeout, and he got Nick Monistere with a ground ball on a slider. On a strict pitch count as he works his way back into form, Roby was lifted after 47 pitches – 27 that went for strikes.

Tekoah Roby Shines in First Game in 456 Days After Tommy John Surgery

Roby’s first outing last Friday – one where he struck out six in three innings of work – it was his first time competing in game action since July 10, 2025, when he injured his elbow during an impressive 5 2/3 inning outing for Triple-A Memphis where he gave up no runs and struck out six hitters. It was a devastating blow for a right-hander who had finally gained some traction in his career and appeared closer than ever to the big leagues.

A third-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2020, Roby topped 100 innings in 2022 at High-A Hickory and was acquired by the Cardinals in the July 2023 trade deadline deal centered around Jordan Montgomery going to the Rangers.

Roby was dealing with a shoulder injury at the time the Cardinals acquired him, and he’s struggled to stay healthy since then. He made just 10 starts at Class A and Double-A in 2024 because of shoulder issues before he looked ready to finally break through as a hurler in 2025. A 4-2 start with a 2.49 ERA over 10 starts at Double-A Springfield earned him a promotion to Triple-A Memphis, where he again fared well over 31 1/3 innings of work.    

Then, came the devastating elbow injury that knocked the Asheville, N.C. native out for more than a year. Named after the nearby Toccoa Falls in North Carolina, but nicknamed “TK” by his Cardinals teammates, Roby said being intentional about his throws while rehabilitating his surgically repaired right elbow should make him more accurate with his pitches in the season ahead.