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Cardinals pitching prospect Owen Rice retires shortly after promotion

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 2, 2026, 11:30 AM

Last updated Jul 2, 2026

Cardinals pitching prospect Owen Rice retires shortly after promotion

Summary

Owen Rice, a 23-year-old prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals, has retired from baseball just days after being promoted to Class-A. Rice, a 20th-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, had a challenging outing in his debut, allowing three runs and walking four batters in two-thirds of an inning. His abrupt retirement follows a year where he began in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, posting a 5.84 ERA in 11 appearances. His performance has raised questions regarding the reasons for his decision to leave the sport so soon after achieving a career milestone.

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By the Numbers

•Owen Rice retires at 23, three days after his Class-A debut.
•He was a 20th-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2024 MLB Draft.
•Rice's debut included three runs allowed and four walks in less than an inning.
•He started the season with a 5.84 ERA in the rookie-level league.
•No details provided by Rice or the Cardinals on his retirement.

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