JUPITER, Fla. — When each of the back fields is rockin’ with action during these early days of full squad workouts at St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp, it stands to reason that the manager can only be in one place, watching one thing at a time.
So it often feels noteworthy when Oliver Marmol takes the time to get eyes on an up-and-coming pitching prospect, as he did when Tekoah Roby threw live to hitters on Tuesday afternoon.
For Roby’s second simulated inning of the day, Marmol was locked in, stationed behind some protective netting about half a dozen feet behind where a home plate umpire would typically stand.
From that vantage point, Roby’s stuff looked impressive to the Cardinal manager as the 23-year-old right-hander elicited swings and misses with various elements of his repertoire.
“A young dude that’s running it up there pretty good—and has some secondary stuff for you, as well,” Marmol said on Wednesday morning, recounting his impression of Roby's day. “Throws that runner and then throws the fastball with 20, 21 inches of vertical break. Missing bats up top. Can spin it with that breaking ball. Got some swing and miss with that, as well.
“Overall, it was pretty impressive.”
Among the Cardinal bats to face Roby was outfielder Victor Scott II, who was struck by the depth of Roby’s arsenal—particularly the effectiveness of how the breaking ball plays off his fastball in multiple locations.
“He’s got that good breaking ball off that, especially when he throws it up,” Scott II said. “Then when he goes down with the breaking ball, it tunnels well.
“Hopefully he doesn’t hear this interview and hear that I said that,” he added with a grin.
Scott II, who spent time with Roby in Springfield after the Cardinals acquired the latter at the 2023 trade deadline, noted the right-hander’s competitive drive as an attribute that will serve him well as Roby aims to make an impression in camp.
Whether he could pitch his way into the group of ascending pitching prospects with an opportunity for a big-league debut down the line in 2025 remains to be seen—as does the role in which it may come for Roby.
Though Roby has been a starter throughout his minor-league career, injuries have hampered his ability to log innings in recent seasons. He threw only 38.1 innings in 2024, but struck out more than a batter per inning to demonstrate the raw upside of his potential on the mound.
While the coaching staff is eager to watch his spring play out, Marmol also outlined the aspect most fundamental to his success will be harnessing that potential in a way that allows him to stay on the mound for the long haul.
“Eager, but also cautious of making sure we ramp him up properly in order to stay healthy,” Marmol said. “But yeah, I would describe it as eager.”
