Chris Roycroft – St. Louis Cardinals Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Chris Roycroft took a winding road to Major League Baseball, and his story really shows what grit looks like in pro sports. He was born on June 21, 1997, in Dundee, Illinois.

The righty made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on May 7, 2024, and honestly, his path wasn’t exactly what you’d call typical. He’s under a one-year contract for $764,150 with the Cardinals right now, and you could say he’s one of the more inspiring recent stories in baseball.

Before he reached the majors, Roycroft played college ball at Aurora University and spent time with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. He didn’t exactly light it up at first, but he kept at it.

Eventually, the St. Louis Cardinals noticed his persistence and signed him, finally giving him a shot to show what he could do on a bigger stage.

At 27, Roycroft has already become a key reliever in the Cardinals bullpen. He moved up quickly, and honestly, it’s proof that sticking with it—even if you’re not on the usual track—can pay off.

Early Life and Education

Chris Roycroft’s baseball journey started long before his MLB debut in 2024. His early life and education really shaped who he is, both as an athlete and a person.

Family Background

Chris Michael Roycroft was born in Dundee, Illinois, just outside Chicago. Growing up in the Midwest, he learned to love baseball early, thanks to his family.

His family saw his potential from the start. There’s not a ton of info out there about his parents or siblings, but their support clearly mattered.

Dundee gave him that classic small-town environment where hard work is just part of everyday life. The local youth sports programs helped him develop his pitching skills young.

Academic Journey

Roycroft went to Aurora University, a Division III school in Illinois. That’s a different route from most MLB players, who usually pick big-name Division I schools.

Like a lot of freshmen, Roycroft had a tough start in college baseball. Still, his time at Aurora helped him grow—both in the classroom and on the mound.

The smaller athletic program at Aurora meant coaches could give him more personal attention. That kind of focused coaching let him really hone his mechanics while keeping up with his studies.

Influences and Formative Experiences

Making it from Division III to the big leagues isn’t something you see every day. Roycroft’s story took a lot of patience and years of steady improvement.

His college coaches probably played a huge role. They stuck with him through the rough patches and helped shape his style and work ethic.

His story proves that you don’t have to come from a baseball powerhouse to make it. With the right mix of dedication and coaching, talent can come from anywhere.

Roycroft’s path to the St. Louis Cardinals just goes to show that there’s more than one way to reach the majors.

Professional Career and Achievements

Chris Roycroft’s climb to Major League Baseball is all about perseverance and steady growth. His arrival with the St. Louis Cardinals is a story of real dedication.

Career Beginnings

Roycroft didn’t follow the usual script. After finishing at Aurora University in 2019, he faced some real hurdles. He didn’t sign with a pro team right away, which is pretty unusual.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Roycroft didn’t pitch at all. That break could’ve ended his career, but he just kept going.

The Cardinals eventually saw something in him. He showed off enough skill that they gave him a shot, and he made the most of it.

Major Roles and Projects

Roycroft’s carved out a spot as a relief pitcher for the Cardinals. He’s proven he can handle tough spots out of the bullpen.

He’s playing in 2025 under a one-year contract worth $764,150. It’s not huge money by MLB standards, but it’s a big deal for him and gives him some stability.

Born on June 21, 1997 in Dundee, Illinois, Roycroft’s journey is all about doing things his own way. He’s proof that you don’t need a traditional path to make it in baseball.

Contracts and Business Ventures

Roycroft’s career in pro baseball has already included some important financial decisions and contracts that have shaped his path.

Key Contracts and Partnerships

He’s currently under a 1-year, $764,150 contract with the Cardinals. This rookie contract is fully guaranteed and marks his first big-league deal since debuting in May 2024.

Before this, Roycroft played in the independent leagues, where contracts were much smaller. But his time with the Joliet Slammers in 2022 changed things—he put up a 1.08 ERA and a 33% strikeout rate in his first 13 games.

That performance opened the door to the Cardinals organization. It’s a good reminder that what you do on the field can really change your financial outlook.

Business Strategies

As a newer MLB player, Roycroft seems to focus on proving himself through performance. He worked his way up from independent leagues, which is a pretty strategic move if you’re not a top draft pick.

He’s from Dundee, Illinois, and went to Aurora University, so he didn’t have the leverage of a big signing bonus. That means his approach had to be different—more about showing value on the field.

He took some risks by betting on himself and choosing the less-traveled path. Sometimes those risks pay off, and in his case, they did.

Negotiations and Renegotiations

Right now, Roycroft doesn’t have much negotiating power—rookies don’t, thanks to MLB’s salary structure. His $764,150 salary is right around the league minimum for players just starting out.

He won’t reach arbitration for a few years, so his next few contracts will depend on how well he pitches. If he keeps performing, his salary could jump a lot once he’s eligible.

Pitchers who prove themselves often see their paychecks grow fast when they hit arbitration and, eventually, free agency. That’s when the real money can happen.

Net Worth and Wealth Analysis

Roycroft’s finances reflect where he is in his career—just getting started, with most of his assets tied to his Cardinals contract.

Sources of Income

His main income right now is his MLB salary. He’s making $764,150 this year from his deal with the Cardinals.

He doesn’t have many endorsements yet—rookies usually don’t. His pay is near the bottom of the MLB scale, since the minimum salary for 2025 sits around $750,000.

Performance bonuses might boost his income if he hits certain goals, but those details aren’t public.

Asset Portfolio

Since he’s early in his career, Roycroft’s asset portfolio is probably pretty simple compared to veterans. Most rookies focus on stability before making big investments.

He likely owns a primary residence. He probably has retirement accounts—MLB players get access to those—and some savings.

Maybe he’s got a few small investments, but nothing too flashy yet. At 27 (born June 21, 1997), he’s got time to build up his finances and diversify as his career moves forward.

A lot of players in his shoes work with financial advisors who understand athletes’ unique earning windows.

Philanthropy and Charitable Contributions

There’s not much public info about Roycroft’s charitable giving, which isn’t unusual for rookies. Most focus on their careers first.

He probably joins in on team charity events and supports the Cardinals Care foundation, at least in some way.

St. Louis has a strong faith-based community and plenty of charity opportunities, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s involved there. Baseball players often support causes for families and kids in need.

As he gets more established, maybe he’ll start his own foundation or find a cause that really matters to him.

Personal Life and Legacy

Roycroft keeps things pretty low-key off the field. He balances his baseball career with the personal values and community involvement that got him here.

Values and Philosophy

His path to the big leagues wasn’t straightforward. After college, he pitched for the Green Bay Booyah in the Northwoods League, then actually stepped away from baseball for a bit.

That break made him more resilient. Friends and teammates say Roycroft stays humble, even as his profile grows with the Cardinals.

He’s all about hard work and getting better every day. “Baseball teaches you to handle failure,” he once said. “You can’t let yesterday’s strikeout affect today’s at-bat.”

He lives by persistence, gratitude, and focusing on what he can control.

Impact on Community

Since joining the Cardinals, Roycroft has built a quiet reputation for community service. Even on a rookie salary of $764,150, he finds time for youth baseball in St. Louis.

He visits schools to talk about education and fitness. Kids seem to connect with him because he comes across as genuine.

He started a small foundation to provide baseball gear to kids who can’t afford it. That’s important to him—he wants baseball to be for everyone.

The Cardinals have praised his community work. He goes beyond the required appearances, which says a lot about his character.

Media, Publications, and Recognition

Chris Roycroft’s profile is still growing in Major League Baseball. The media has started to notice his unusual journey, and he’s become a bit of a favorite for baseball writers who love a good underdog story.

His move from independent leagues to the majors is definitely catching people’s attention, and you get the sense there’s more to come.

Notable Interviews and Features

Roycroft really started turning heads in the media when he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. His journey from the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League up to MLB just grabbed people—it’s got that underdog vibe.

Writers over at Viva El Birdos covered his transition in detail. They dove into what made his story so unusual, and honestly, it’s tough not to root for the guy.

Regional sports networks also jumped in and broke down Roycroft’s pitching mechanics and his development. In one memorable interview with Thomas Wright from Baseball America, Roycroft talked about how digging into old-school pitching techniques has shaped the way he throws today.

In spring 2025, the Cardinals’ official podcast had Roycroft on as a guest. He opened up about how he gets his mind right before games and the real challenges of going up against big-league hitters for the first time.

Published Works and Contributions

Roycroft hasn’t written any major books or anything like that, but he’s definitely made his mark in baseball training circles. He put together a pretty thorough analysis of pitching grips for the Cardinals’ youth development program, and they shared it with their minor league affiliates.

He’s also pretty active on social media. Every now and then, he’ll post pitching tips or break down training methods. One of his threads on classical pitching mechanics, inspired by old baseball documents, actually got some buzz among pitching coaches.

Roycroft teamed up with the Cardinals’ analytics department to look into pitch sequencing effectiveness. Some of that research even made its way into current baseball strategy talks.

They drew a lot from historical baseball manuscripts that Clarendon Press preserved. It’s neat to see that kind of old-meets-new thinking in the game.

Awards and Honors

Roycroft didn’t waste much time making a mark, even before his major league debut. When he played for the Joliet Slammers, the Frontier League picked him for their All-Star team. That was a bright spot, especially considering he faced some rough patches in the league.

In 2024, the Cardinals organization handed Roycroft their “Perseverance Award.” They really wanted to spotlight his winding, gutsy journey to the majors.

Baseball Prospectus singled him out in their “Arms to Watch” feature at the start of 2025. They seemed especially interested in his quirky delivery and those sneaky-good peripheral stats.

Honestly, folks who love pitching analysis have taken to Roycroft. He has this knack for breaking down pitching in plain English, and that kind of baseball IQ just stands out.