"A torn lat muscle last March ended up costing Zack Thompson the entirety of his 2025 season, though the Cardinals left-hander was also dealing with another injury. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Thompson had an arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder in August, described as "a cleanup procedure." The recovery from this surgery has delayed Thompson's mound work at the start of Spring Training, though he is playing catch and planning to ramp up his throwing."
"It seems like this means Thompson will begin the 2026 season on the injured list, though the fact that he hasn't already been put on the 60-day IL is perhaps a good sign. A 60-day IL placement prior to Opening Day automatically rules Thompson out of action until at least late May, so the Cardinals might feel optimistic that Thompson will be ready to go at some point within the season's first two months."
"The shoulder surgery adds to this extended setback to Thompson's career. Now entering his age-28 season, the southpaw has appeared in parts of three MLB seasons since St. Louis selected him with the 19th overall pick of the 2019 draft. After not playing anywhere in 2020 due to the canceled minor league season, Thompson has played only with Triple-A Memphis and in the majors, without much success at either level."
Zack Thompson suffered a torn lat last March that cost him the entire 2025 season and required arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August described as a "cleanup procedure." Recovery from the shoulder surgery has delayed mound work at the start of Spring Training, though he is currently playing catch and ramping up throwing. The Cardinals have not yet placed him on the 60-day injured list, suggesting optimism about availability within the first two months of the 2026 season. Thompson, entering age 28, has struggled across parts of three MLB seasons and in Triple-A, posting a 4.50 MLB ERA, a 23.5% strikeout rate, and elevated walk rates, and faces uncertainty about a starting or relief role.
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