Cards call up '22 Draftee Rajcic for bullpen depth

KANSAS CITY -- As the Cardinals mix and match to find the best possible solutions for their bullpen, right-hander Max Rajcic has arrived to lend a helping hand.

On Thursday, St. Louis selected the contract of Rajcic from Triple-A Memphis and designated right-hander Chris Roycroft for assignment. Rajcic, who was the Cards’ MiLB Pitcher of the Year in 2023, has the potential to provide flexibility for manager Oliver Marmol’s bullpen.

“We’ll take a look at it early and start to define different ways we can use him,” Marmol said of Rajcic. “He can give an inning at a time or he can give multiples. I’m really excited to see how that plays at this level.”

Rajcic was 4-2 with five saves and a 2.88 ERA in 26 games for Memphis. The Cardinals selected the UCLA product in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Rajcic pitched an inning for Memphis on Wednesday afternoon and got the news he was headed to the Major League club later in the day.

“When I got the call, I was super excited,” Rajcic said. “This is what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid and it finally happened.”

Rajcic said he’s prepared to help the Cardinals in whatever role the club might have in mind for him.

“If they need two or three innings from me, I’ll do that,” Rajcic said. “If they need back-to-back, that’s what I was doing in Memphis and I’m ready to do that here.”

Rajcic was the Cards’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May after posting a 2-0 record and 1.20 ERA in 11 outings. Over a 15-inning span, he had 19 strikeouts and just four walks.

“I like what he brings to the table,” Marmol said. “I like the mentality that he brings to the mound.”