Michael McGreevy

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #10 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: McGreevy earned freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 before breaking out as a starter in 2021. He drew scouts to UC Santa Barbara in his draft year by showing increased velocity and advanced pitchability. The Cardinals selected McGreevy with the 18th pick in 2021, and he signed for $2.75 million. Over three full professional seasons, McGreevy has shown a knack for racking up innings, throwing 144.1 in 2022, 153 in 2023 and 173 in 2024, counting his major league time after he made his MLB debut on July 31.
  
  Scouting Report: McGreevy fits the back-of-the-rotation pitchability type to a tee. Sitting 91-93 mph and mixing two fastball shapes, he leans primarily on a sinker. His quartet of secondary pitches includes an upper-80s cutter, a mid-80s sweeper slider, an upper-70s curveball and a changeup. McGreevy’s sinking fastball is a fringe-average pitch which helps him drive groundball contact. His slider is his highest-graded pitch, missing bats at an average-or-better rate while showing strong underlying control metrics. His curveball, cutter and changeup all grade as below-to-fringe-average offerings. McGreevy attacks the strike zone extremely well and tunnels effective areas with a variety of pitch shapes and moves the ball around the zone. His pitchability gives him a solid chance to hack it as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.
  
  The Future: McGreevy projects to be a part of the Cardinals’ rotation for a good chunk of 2025. He’s proven he can handle the workload and has the ability to work efficiently, though he lacks midrotation-or-better upside.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #14 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: A freshman All-American reliever in 2019, McGreevy made the jump to the rotation with UC Santa Barbara as a sophomore. McGreevy broke out in 2021 and struck out 115 batters with just 11 walks in 101.2 innings during his draft spring. The Cardinals selected McGreevy in the first round of the 2021 draft and he debuted in 2022. McGreevy reached Double-A in 2022 and returned to the level to begin 2023. He dominated over three starts and earned the promotion to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: McGreevy mixes two fastball variants, a slider, curveball and changeup, but his primary mix is sinker and slider. McGreevy’s sinker sits 90-92 mph and touches 93 mph with moderate sink and armside run. While his raw stuff is poor on the pitch, he shows plus command and avoids trouble spots in the zone. His slider is his primary secondary and McGreevy’s best pitch. It sits 84-85 mph with cut and he tunnels it off of the fastball well. His changeup is a firm upper-80s pitch that can blend into his sinker at times, but he showed improved feel for the pitch in 2023. McGreevy’s curveball was once his go-to secondary and is now used in tandem with his changeup against lefthanded hitters. McGreevy shows plus command and has a strong track record of strike-throwing.
  
  The Future: McGreevy is a low-upside back-end starter who can eat innings.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: A three-year standout at UC Santa Barbara, McGreevy moved to the rotation in 2020 after earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever. He made just four starts prior to the pandemic shutdown, but returned in 2021 to lead Gauchos' rotation with a 2.92 ERA and 115 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted McGreevy 18th overall in 2021 and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy was assigned to High-A Peoria out of camp in 2022 and was promoted to Double-A Springfield by late May. Upon reaching the Texas League, McGreevy struggled across 20 starts as he allowed frequent hard contact and missed fewer bats.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic righthander with a rapid-fire move to the plate from both the windup and stretch, McGreevy has a longer arm action and delivers the ball from a three-quarters arm slot. He mixes four pitches, but his primary plan of attack revolves around his fastball/slider combination. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and tops out at 95, with below-average ride and heavy armside run. He commands his fastball, which works primarily as a setup for his above-average slider. McGreevy threw his slider--which shows classic shape at 82-84 mph--more than his curveball and changeup combined. His slider drives more whiffs and chase swings than any pitch in his arsenal. His mid-80s changeup flashes average, but he commanded it poorly in 2022. His curveball is a high-70s breaker with average spin and more depth than his slider. With above-average command and some deception due to his high-effort throwing motion, McGreevy has more of a swingman's profile.
  
  The Future: McGreevy is likely to return to Double-A Springfield to begin 2023 before reaching Triple-A. He projects best as a No. 5 starter with a chance his stuff would play up in a relief role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 55
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #4 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: McGreevy made an immediate impact at UC Santa Barbara by earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 and posting a 0.99 ERA in four starts in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. He built on that success and solidified himself as the best pitcher on the West Coast during his junior season, posting a 2.92 ERA with 115 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy made seven starts split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Palm Beach after he signed, throwing no more than two innings in any outing.
  
  Scouting Report: McGreevy is a control artist who also happens to have four above-average or better pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. The pitch plays up with armside sink and finish, and he is able to effectively locate it to both sides of the plate. McGreevy’s curveball is his most effective secondary offering as a top-to-bottom hammer that flashes plus. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a mid-80s slider and a changeup that flash above-average as well. McGreevy ties everything together with plus-plus control. He floods the strike zone with all of his pitches and his few misses are very small. McGreevy is an excellent athlete with a strong, durable build at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and still has some projection remaining.
  
  The Future: McGreevy has all the ingredients to be a mid-rotation starter. He should start the season at High-A and could move quickly.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #16 prospect in 2021 draft
  McGreevy caught scouts’ attention in high school with a velocity spike at the end of his senior year, but his short track record and questions about his signability allowed him to get to campus at UC Santa Barbara. He starred immediately for the Gauchos, earning Freshman All-America honors as a multi-inning reliever before moving into the rotation as a sophomore and posting a 0.99 ERA before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. McGreevy picked up where he left off in 2021, assuming the Friday night starter’s role for UCSB and emerging as the best college pitcher on the West Coast. He went 9-1, 2.92 with 109 strikeouts and 10 walks in 95.2 innings during the regular season. A standout shortstop in high school, McGreevy is an excellent athlete who fills up the strike zone with four pitches. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and touches 95-96 with sink and finish to his arm side. His low-80s curveball with downer action flashes plus, and his mid-80s slider and changeup each project as average to slightly above. McGreevy stands out most for his control. He is an elite strike-thrower who walked only 30 batters in 183.1 career innings at UCSB and projects to have plus-plus control, with evaluators noting his misses are smaller than former Gaucho and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber’s were at the same age. McGreevy locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, lands all three of his secondary pitches for strikes and works quickly and efficiently. With a strong, durable body at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and an athletic, repeatable delivery, McGreevy holds his stuff deep into games and is a no-doubt starting pitcher. Most see him as a potential mid-rotation starter, but he’s young for the class at only 20 and is a candidate to take a jump in an organization with a strong player development team.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: A three-year standout at UC Santa Barbara, McGreevy moved to the rotation in 2020 after earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever. He made just four starts prior to the pandemic shutdown, but returned in 2021 to lead Gauchos' rotation with a 2.92 ERA and 115 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted McGreevy 18th overall in 2021 and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy was assigned to High-A Peoria out of camp in 2022 and was promoted to Double-A Springfield by late May. Upon reaching the Texas League, McGreevy struggled across 20 starts as he allowed frequent hard contact and missed fewer bats.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic righthander with a rapid-fire move to the plate from both the windup and stretch, McGreevy has a longer arm action and delivers the ball from a three-quarters arm slot. He mixes four pitches, but his primary plan of attack revolves around his fastball/slider combination. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and tops out at 95, with below-average ride and heavy armside run. He commands his fastball, which works primarily as a setup for his above-average slider. McGreevy threw his slider--which shows classic shape at 82-84 mph--more than his curveball and changeup combined. His slider drives more whiffs and chase swings than any pitch in his arsenal. His mid-80s changeup flashes average, but he commanded it poorly in 2022. His curveball is a high-70s breaker with average spin and more depth than his slider. With above-average command and some deception due to his high-effort throwing motion, McGreevy has more of a swingman's profile.
  
  The Future: McGreevy is likely to return to Double-A Springfield to begin 2023 before reaching Triple-A. He projects best as a No. 5 starter with a chance his stuff would play up in a relief role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: A three-year standout at UC Santa Barbara, McGreevy moved to the rotation in 2020 after earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever. He made just four starts prior to the pandemic shutdown, but returned in 2021 to lead Gauchos' rotation with a 2.92 ERA and 115 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted McGreevy 18th overall in 2021 and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy was assigned to High-A Peoria out of camp in 2022 and was promoted to Double-A Springfield by late May. Upon reaching the Texas League, McGreevy struggled across 20 starts as he allowed frequent hard contact and missed fewer bats.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic righthander with a rapid-fire move to the plate from both the windup and stretch, McGreevy has a longer arm action and delivers the ball from a three-quarters arm slot. He mixes four pitches, but his primary plan of attack revolves around his fastball/slider combination. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and tops out at 95, with below-average ride and heavy armside run. He commands his fastball, which works primarily as a setup for his above-average slider. McGreevy threw his slider--which shows classic shape at 82-84 mph--more than his curveball and changeup combined. His slider drives more whiffs and chase swings than any pitch in his arsenal. His mid-80s changeup flashes average, but he commanded it poorly in 2022. His curveball is a high-70s breaker with average spin and more depth than his slider. With above-average command and some deception due to his high-effort throwing motion, McGreevy has more of a swingman's profile.
  
  The Future: McGreevy is likely to return to Double-A Springfield to begin 2023 before reaching Triple-A. He projects best as a No. 5 starter with a chance his stuff would play up in a relief role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: McGreevy made an immediate impact at UC Santa Barbara by earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 and posting a 0.99 ERA in four starts in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. He built on that success and solidified himself as the best pitcher on the West Coast during his junior season, posting a 2.92 ERA with 115 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy made seven starts split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Palm Beach after he signed, throwing no more than two innings in any outing.
  
  Scouting Report: McGreevy is a control artist who also happens to have four above-average or better pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. The pitch plays up with armside sink and finish, and he is able to effectively locate it to both sides of the plate. McGreevy&#39s curveball is his most effective secondary offering as a top-to-bottom hammer that flashes plus. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a mid-80s slider and a changeup that flash above-average as well. McGreevy ties everything together with plus-plus control. He floods the strike zone with all of his pitches and his few misses are very small. McGreevy is an excellent athlete with a strong, durable build at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and still has some projection remaining.
  
  The Future: McGreevy has all the ingredients to be a mid-rotation starter. He should start the season at High-A and could move quickly.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 70.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: McGreevy made an immediate impact at UC Santa Barbara by earning freshman All-America honors as a reliever in 2019 and posting a 0.99 ERA in four starts in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. He built on that success and solidified himself as the best pitcher on the West Coast during his junior season, posting a 2.92 ERA with 115 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 101.2 innings. The Cardinals drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $2.75 million. McGreevy made seven starts split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Palm Beach after he signed, throwing no more than two innings in any outing.
  
  Scouting Report: McGreevy is a control artist who also happens to have four above-average or better pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. The pitch plays up with armside sink and finish, and he is able to effectively locate it to both sides of the plate. McGreevy’s curveball is his most effective secondary offering as a top-to-bottom hammer that flashes plus. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a mid-80s slider and a changeup that flash above-average as well. McGreevy ties everything together with plus-plus control. He floods the strike zone with all of his pitches and his few misses are very small. McGreevy is an excellent athlete with a strong, durable build at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and still has some projection remaining.
  
  The Future: McGreevy has all the ingredients to be a mid-rotation starter. He should start the season at High-A and could move quickly.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  McGreevy caught scouts' attention in high school with a velocity spike at the end of his senior year, but his short track record and questions about his signability allowed him to get to campus at UC Santa Barbara. He starred immediately for the Gauchos, earning Freshman All-America honors as a multi-inning reliever before moving into the rotation as a sophomore and posting a 0.99 ERA before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. McGreevy picked up where he left off in 2021, assuming the Friday night starter's role for UCSB and emerging as the best college pitcher on the West Coast. He went 9-1, 2.92 with 109 strikeouts and 10 walks in 95.2 innings during the regular season. A standout shortstop in high school, McGreevy is an excellent athlete who fills up the strike zone with four pitches. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and touches 95-96 with sink and finish to his arm side. His low-80s curveball with downer action flashes plus, and his mid-80s slider and changeup each project as average to slightly above. McGreevy stands out most for his control. He is an elite strike-thrower who walked only 30 batters in 183.1 career innings at UCSB and projects to have plus-plus control, with evaluators noting his misses are smaller than former Gaucho and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber's were at the same age. McGreevy locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, lands all three of his secondary pitches for strikes and works quickly and efficiently. With a strong, durable body at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and an athletic, repeatable delivery, McGreevy holds his stuff deep into games and is a no-doubt starting pitcher. Most see him as a potential mid-rotation starter, but he's young for the class at only 20 and is a candidate to take a jump in an organization with a strong player development team.