Texas Tech baseball alum Hunter Dobbins eyes new start with Cardinals

Dobbins was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals in December 2025.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:31am

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Hunter Dobbins, a former Texas Tech baseball player, is excited for a fresh start with the St. Louis Cardinals after being traded from the Boston Red Sox in December 2025. Dobbins made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2025 and had a successful rookie season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher is looking forward to the opportunity to earn a spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

Why it matters

The trade to the Cardinals represents a new chapter for Dobbins, who had a promising start to his MLB career with the Red Sox before the injury setback. As the Cardinals look to get younger and trim payroll, Dobbins could have a chance to establish himself as a key part of their future rotation.

The details

Dobbins was traded to the Cardinals as part of a deal that sent three-time All-Star catcher Willson Contreras from St. Louis to Boston. In his rookie season with the Red Sox in 2025, Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 appearances, including 11 starts. He pitched 61 innings, allowed 61 hits and 17 walks, and struck out 45 batters. Dobbins' college career at Texas Tech was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and Tommy John surgery, but he's now looking to make up for lost time at the MLB level.

  • Dobbins was traded to the Cardinals on December 21, 2025.
  • Dobbins made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in early April 2025 and stayed in the rotation until mid-July, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

The players

Hunter Dobbins

A 26-year-old right-handed pitcher who made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2025 and is now joining the St. Louis Cardinals after being traded in December 2025.

Craig Breslow

The Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer, who called Dobbins to inform him of the trade.

Willson Contreras

A three-time All-Star catcher who was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox as part of the deal that sent Dobbins to the Cardinals.

Tim Tadlock

The head baseball coach at Texas Tech University, where Dobbins played from 2019 to 2021.

Matt Kastelic

A former Texas Tech baseball player who inspired Dobbins during his college years.

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What they’re saying

“As soon as I saw his name, I was like, 'I'm going somewhere.'”

— Hunter Dobbins

“It's been a lot of fun, but also some challenges. Getting to debut and all that, getting to play up in Fenway and some pretty cool stuff. And then the injury, just kind of another setback, but another challenge. Took it head on. We're in a really good spot. Arm feels good, body feels good and ready for spring training.”

— Hunter Dobbins

“There's some familiar faces over there. I've met some of the new guys, and they're all really cool. I think we're going to have a really good group of guys, so it kind of felt like home pretty quick.”

— Hunter Dobbins

What’s next

Dobbins will report to spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, in the coming days as he looks to earn a spot in their starting rotation.

The takeaway

The trade to the Cardinals represents a fresh start for Dobbins, who is eager to build on his promising MLB debut with the Red Sox and overcome the setback of his season-ending knee injury. As the Cardinals look to get younger, Dobbins has an opportunity to establish himself as a key part of their future pitching staff.