Zack Thompson Injury Update, Recovery Timeline and 2026 Outlook

This article digs into Zack Thompson’s bumpy injury history, where he’s at with rehab, and how the Cardinals’ rebuild might shape his future as a rotation arm. He lost his 2025 season to a lat tear, then needed a shoulder cleanup—so durability questions are swirling, and his return timeline could steer how St. Louis uses him in 2026 and after.

Injury timeline and current rehab status

Thompson’s comeback started with that lat muscle tear, which erased his entire 2025 campaign. He followed it up with arthroscopic work on his throwing shoulder in August.

The shoulder procedure slowed his throwing ramp-up. Right now, he’s playing catch and plans to ramp things up more as Spring Training moves along.

Given the recovery path, Thompson probably opens 2026 on the injured list. The Cardinals haven’t put him on the 60-day IL yet, so he’s not officially out until late May.

The 28-year-old righty went 19th overall in the 2019 draft. He’s logged parts of three MLB seasons, with 118 innings, a 4.50 ERA, a 23.5% strikeout rate, and a 9.3% walk rate.

Those stats don’t jump off the page, but there’s enough upside to keep him in the mix if his health holds up. Thompson’s rocky 2024—he posted a 9.53 ERA in just 17 innings—reminds you how quickly things can snowball when command and injuries pile up.

From the minors to the big leagues: a snapshot of performance

Triple-A Memphis didn’t treat him much better: a 5.92 ERA, 23.94% K%, and 13.9% walk rate, mostly as a starter in 2025. In the majors, he started just 12 of 52 games and bounced between starting and relief.

That versatility keeps him interesting, especially for a team trying to rebuild. He’s shown he can handle different roles, and maybe that’s the ticket to staying healthy over a long season.

Rotation opportunities and developmental plan

Since St. Louis is rebuilding, there’s really not much risk in seeing what Thompson can do as a starter. He’s got the athleticism and some big-league experience—maybe that’s enough to land a rotation job if his health and command line up.

Some key context about where he stands:

• One minor-league option left after all of 2025 on the MLB injured list, so the Cardinals have some wiggle room with his workload and development when he returns.
• Injury-first approach means his 2026 readiness depends on spring progress and how aggressively the team pushes him.
• Role clarity will depend on how he looks early in 2026 and what other pitching options surface. He could end up in a multi-inning role or maybe settle in as a steady back-end starter—if he proves he can stay on the mound.

What this means for the Cardinals’ broader plans

Thompson’s situation kind of sums up the Cardinals’ bigger strategy. They’re aiming to buy low on pitchers with upside and manage risk with a flexible usage plan.

The team wants to keep their options open for future versions of the roster. Thompson’s 2019 draft status (19th overall) and that extra minor-league option give the club some breathing room as they figure out if he can develop consistent mechanics and command.

If he stays healthy, Thompson might really help stabilize a young pitching staff. The Cardinals are trying to compete while still rebuilding around their homegrown arms, and he could play a meaningful part in that.

 
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