Texas Tech baseball alum Hunter Dobbins was traded for the first time after a successful MLB debut. He's pumped up to be with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Hunter Dobbins knew if Craig Breslow was calling him a few days before Christmas, the point of the call wasn't to wish him happy holidays.
Breslow is the Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer, and Dobbins is a young pitcher who had just established himself in his rookie season with Boston. Dobbins was home watching football with his parents and little brother when he saw Breslow's name pop up on his cell phone.
"As soon as I saw his name, I was like, 'I'm going somewhere,'" Dobbins said after the Texas Tech baseball alumni game on Saturday, Jan. 31.
On Dec. 21, the St. Louis Cardinals traded first baseman Willson Contreras, a three-time all-star, to the Red Sox, and Dobbins was the most experienced of three young players going back to the Cardinals. Another major development in a whirlwind 2025 for Dobbins, who had made his Major League debut and stayed in the Boston rotation from early April to mid-July, then suffered a season-ending knee injury covering first base.
"It's been a lot of fun, but also some challenges," he said of his 2025. "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."
On Saturday, Jan. 31, the 26-year-old righthander started and pitched an inning in the Texas Tech baseball alumni game at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park. The 2026 team, powered by two home runs from Logan Hughes, beat the alumni 10-4.
In a few days, Dobbins will be on his way to spring training in Jupiter, Florida, with a new team.
"There's some familiar faces over there," he said. "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."
Lubbock has been home for Dobbins ever since he played for Texas Tech from 2019-21. He and his wife make their home here. That's where he found out he had been traded — literally sitting by the fire during the time of year known as hot stove season.
Dobbins went 4-1 with a 4.13 earned-run average last season. In 13 appearances that included 11 starts, he pitched 61 innings, allowed 61 hits and 17 walks and struck out 45.
Oddly enough, Dobbins already has more career innings and starts in one half season in the majors than he had in three years for the Red Raiders. The COVID pandemic ended Tech's 2020 season after 19 games, and Dobbins missed all of 2021 after Tommy John elbow surgery. The Red Sox drafted him in the eighth round that year.
That's not how he expected his college career to play out, especially after he pitched in a College World Series game as a freshman. He's making it up for lost time during offseasons now, though, working out in the Red Raiders' new facilities and with the staff and current team.
"There's a lot of things off the field that I learned from this place," he said, "and that's the reason that I come back.
"I look back, and I think I logged 40-something innings in my three years here at Tech. I wish it would have been a whole lot more, but it's all worked out, and now I get to be kind of that older voice for these guys that want to have those conversations and talk and I'm happy to be here for them."
The Cardinals went 78-84 last season and have spent this off-season trying to get younger and trim payroll. They've been trading veterans — in addition to Contreras, pitcher Sonny Gray and third baseman Nolan Arenado also have been moved for prospects and cash.
Even though the Cardinals aren't expected to contend in 2026, St. Louis could be a perfect place for a young pitcher.
"It's a lot closer to home. I think it's like 20 hours closer," Dobbins said. "It's a big baseball city. They love their Cardinals, so I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go earn a rotation spot and see what happens."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Trade gives Texas Tech baseball ex Hunter Dobbins new start with Cards
Category: General Sports
