The St. Louis Cardinals have added right-handed pitcher Robbie Knowles to their organization, signing the 25-year-old to a minor league contract as reported on January 20, 2026. This move brings a promising arm with a strong recent showing into the Cardinals’ depth chart, particularly in the bullpen pipeline.
Knowles, born October 27, 2000, in Manhattan Beach, California, stands at 6-1 and 220 pounds. He throws and bats right-handed. His baseball journey includes stints at Mira Costa High School, junior college at El Camino College, the University of San Diego (where he redshirted his freshman year), and most recently the University of Kansas as a junior in 2025. At Kansas, he appeared in relief roles, showcasing his arm in the Big 12 conference.
After his college career, Knowles took part in a professional showcase at Tread Athletics Pro Day in early January 2026. There, he impressed scouts with his velocity and pitch mix:
- Fastball sitting 95-96 mph, touching 97.3 mph, with 18-20 inches of vertical break.
- A low-90s cutter.
- A mid-80s gyro slider.
- A splitter
This performance highlighted him as one of the standout arms during the session, demonstrating “pure stuff” that caught the attention of MLB teams.
The Cardinals, who have been active in adding arms and depth this offseason—including several minor league deals and international signings—see Knowles as a valuable addition to their minor league system. While he has no prior professional experience, his age, size, and recent velocity make him an intriguing relief prospect. The organization could deploy him in rookie or low-A levels initially to build innings and refine his command.
Knowles’ family ties to the game add an interesting layer—his father, Rob R. Knowles, also played college ball at San Diego State and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the 20th round of the 1985 MLB Draft, giving Robbie a full-circle connection to the franchise.
His grandfather, William Knowles, also played minor league baseball.
Robbie writes country music with his dad and is a published artist on all streaming platforms under the name Rob E Knowles. Drawing inspiration from classic country, he crafts infectious, relatable narratives that resonate with listeners through songs like “Take Me Home,” “Talkin’ Texas,” “Dallas Shoes,” “Loved By You,” and “Domino Fields.” His music is available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, where his bio highlights an “unfaltering love for the sounds of good ol’ Country.”
Rob E Knowles
Listen to Rob E Knowles on Spotify. Artist · 465 monthly listeners.
