r/baseball Locked and Stickied Post by T_Raycroft

Chris Roycroft: MLB Pitcher Profile and 2026 Season Update Chris Michael Roycroft is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on June 21, 1997, in Dundee, Illinois, Roycroft made his MLB debut on May 7, 2024, and has since established himself as a right-handed reliever in the Cardinals’ bullpen. [3] Roycroft attended Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois, graduating in 2015, where he was named a Daily Herald All-Area honoree in baseball. He then played two-sport athletics at Aurora University, competing in basketball during his freshman year before focusing exclusively on baseball. At Aurora, he compiled a 17–3 record with a 3.33 ERA over 40 appearances, including 19 starts, striking out 184 batters over 181 innings with eight saves across his college career. [2] After going undrafted in 2019, Roycroft signed with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League in 2021, where he posted a 4–4 record and 5.81 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 69⅔ innings. He improved significantly in 2022, recording a 1.08 ERA in 13 games during the first half of the season before signing a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 2022. [3] Roycroft made his MLB debut with the Cardinals on May 7, 2024. Through the 2025 season, he has appeared in 52 major league games, compiling a 2–5 win–loss record, a 5.98 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and a 1.69 WHIP over 58⅔ innings pitched. In the 2026 regular season, through early April, he has made five appearances, posting a 0–0 record, a 12.27 ERA, three strikeouts, and a 3.55 WHIP in 3⅔ innings. [2] Standing at 6 feet 8 inches and weighing 230 pounds, Roycroft bats and throws right-handed. His stepfather, Dan, is a union carpenter who contributed to the Wrigley Field renovation project, and his mother, Maggie, attends his games on Mother’s Day, collecting a game ball from each venue he pitches in. [2] As of the 2026 season, Roycroft remains under team control with the St. Louis Cardinals, wearing jersey number 57. He continues to develop as a high-velocity reliever in the Cardinals’ pitching staff, aiming to refine his command and consistency at the major league level. [2][3]