The St. Louis Cardinals have provided a fresh update on Hunter Dobbins, the pitching prospect they acquired as the centerpiece of the Willson Contreras trade.
As part of their shift toward a youth-focused rebuild, the Cardinals parted ways with several veteran players, including slugger Willson Contreras, who was dealt to the Boston Red Sox alongside Sonny Gray. In return, St. Louis secured a package of prospects headlined by Dobbins. However, the young right-hander’s development hit a setback in 2025 when he suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for the final few months of the season.
Before the injury, Dobbins made his MLB debut with Boston, appearing in 13 games (11 starts) and posting a 4.13 ERA. He underwent surgery in July to repair the ACL and is still working his way back as Spring Training gets underway.
There is encouraging news on the pitching front. Reports indicate his arm is in good shape, and he has already thrown live sessions without issue. The lingering concern, however, centers on his mobility. Because his knee is still recovering, he has been limited in certain game-like activities, particularly fielding his position.
According to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dobbins recently visited a specialist and appears to be progressing as expected. While he’s building up on the mound, his participation in full in-game scenarios remains somewhat restricted. If his recovery continues on schedule, he could factor into the Cardinals’ starting rotation mix.
