Ex-Red Sox pitcher’s first season with Cardinals cut short after 3 Triple-A starts

Richard Fitts’ first season with the St. Louis Cardinals was cut short after three starts in Triple-A.

The right-handed pitcher underwent season-ending shoulder surgery to repair a right lat. The injury landed him on the injured list last week.

“Long term prognosis should be good,” Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Friday, per The Associated Press. “We’re confident he’s going to bounce back and be just fine but, he’s not going to pitch again this season.”

Fitts began the season in Triple-A and was 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA in three starts for Memphis before his surgery.

Fitts was acquired by the Cardinals in a trade that was facilitated by Bloom and sent Sonny Gray to Boston in November.

The 26-year-old left-handed pitcher amassed 65 ⅔ innings over 15 games (14 starts) over the last two seasons. Prior to the trade, he was expected to compete for a spot in the Red Sox rotation.

Fitts had an up-and-down 2025 season that included several injuries and a 5.00 ERA. His season ended prematurely in August due to arm neuritis.

During spring training with the Cardinals, Fitts went 2-1 with a 5.79 ERA. He also amassed nine strikeouts in 9⅓ innings.

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