Graduated from Cleveland High School in Johnston County, N.C., where he was a High Honors graduate and National Honor Society member. Made All-Conference his sophomore through senior seasons in baseball... Played college baseball at Division II University of Mount Olive (NC), posting a 15-6 mark with a 3.54 ERA in 33 career appearances... Was the 2014 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and an All-First Team Selection... Is one of four players in Major League history from Mount Olive joining active LHP Bruce Zimmerman (BAL), and former RHP Carter Capps (SEA, MIA, SD) and C Steve Mintez (SF, ANA)... Missed his entire junior season and most of his senior season at Mount Olive due to Tommy John surgery... Resides in Clayton, North Carolina.
2021
Did not open the season on the Opening Day roster, but was recalled on April 13 and made a career-high 25 Major League appearances while appearing in 18 minor league games at Memphis (AAA) and Springfield (AA), including injury rehabilitation assignment... Missed 38 games on the 10-day Injured List (5/30-7/10) with back spasms... Finished the season on a 15.2 inning scoreless streak, the longest in his career and 5th-longest active to finish the season in the National League... Did not allow a Major League run after May 21... Recorded a Hold in three of his final four appearances... Did not allow a hit in High Leverage situations all season striking out seven of 14 total batters faced (0-for-11, 2 BB)... Did not allow a run in 11 Sept. appearances scattering seven singles (7-43, .163) while fanning 17-of-48 (35.4%) batters faced... Tied for 7th among Cardinals pitchers with Luis Garcia and Andrew Miller with six games finished... Allowed one home run at PHI (4/16) to JT Realmuto and did not allow another to his last 86 batters faced... Did not allow a run in five appearances pitching on consecutive days... Made six appearances of four outs or more with two scoreless innings twice (vs. WSH 4/13 & vs. LAD 9/6)... Held left-handed batters to a .154 (8-52) BA and right-handers to .200 (7-35). He only allowed three extra-base hits all season (2 doubles, 1 home run)... Limited opposition to .087 (2-23) w/ runners in scoring position... Did not allow a run in five-day game appearances (6.0 innings)... Struck out a batter in 17-of-25 appearances including his last eight consecutive to finish the season.
2021 POSTSEASON: Was on the postseason roster for the 2021 Wild Card game at Los Angeles but did not pitch in the game...was his second straight season on the postseason roster...was one of five former Division II collegiate baseball players on 2021 postseason rosters including teammate RHP Miles Mikolas, OF Chas McCormick (HOU), LHP Alex Vesia (LAD) and INF Joey Wendle (TB).
2020
Made his Major League debut vs. PIT (7/26) and tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout... Appeared in four games, three scoreless outings...Did not allow a baserunner to a right-handed batter (0-8, K)...Struck out a batter in all four appearances...Allowed his first run on a solo home run by Franchy Cordero at KC (9/23)...Missed time from 8/4-9/22 on the 10-day Injured List (COVID).
2020 POSTSEASON: Made one postseason appearance, entering in the 8th inning of Game 2 at SD, surrendering a two-run home run to Wil Myers before retiring Austin Nola on a ground out. Was his first appearance in a game without recording a strikeout since 8/27/19 at New Orleans while with Memphis (AAA).