ST. LOUIS – Gary LaRocque, after more than a decade as the St. Louis Cardinals’ director of player development, will retire from the role at the end of the 2024 season.

The Cardinals announced that LaRocque will remain with the organization next year in an advisory role.

LaRocque joined the Cardinals organization in 2008 and has overseen the Cardinals’ farm system for the last 12 seasons. He has nearly five decades of experience in professional baseball player development and scouting roles.

“Gary’s leadership and direction has made a tremendous impact on the Cardinals organization, always striving to do what was best for our players and staff to help make them the best at what they do – both on and off the field,” said Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. “Gary has not only been a great Farm Director for us, but he has also been a great friend to myself and many others.”

During LaRocque’s time in his lead development role, the Cardinals have promoted at least one first-rounder every year besides 2017 from the 2012-2021 drafts, including names such as Michael Wacha, Jack Flaherty, Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, among others.

In total, the Cardinals have promoted 113 prospects to the MLB level with LaRocque in his lead development role. Nine minor league affiliate teams have also won league championships with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Springfield in the running for a title this year.

Fan confidence in the farm system, however, seems to be wavering as the Cardinals could miss postseason for the second consecutive year and fifth time over the last decade. Most recently, some fans have been frustrated with the up-and-down movement of last year’s top prospect Jordan Walker.

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Cardinals (Seasonal)

Since the turn to the 2020s, MLB.com’s MLB Pipeline has ranked the Cardinals farm system near the middle of the pack prior to the start of many new seasons. Out of 30 teams…

• The Cardinals’ farm system ranked 23rd before the 2024 season
• 9th before the 2023 season
• 16th before the 2022 season
• 17th before the 2021 season
• 18th before the 2020 season.

The Cardinals did not announce immediate plans to fill the director of player development role after the 2024 season.

Prior to the joining the Cardinals, LaRocque served in senior management levels for the New York Mets, which began in 1998, including Scouting Director, Assistant General Manager, VP Player Development & Scouting and was Vice President of Professional Scouting.

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