photo: Jedd Gyorko (USA TODAY Sports Images)
St. Louis will have to do without its starting third baseman for the next two weeks or more, as Jedd Gyorko’s hamstring injury has pushed him to the disabled list.
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Sunday) that they have placed infielder Jedd Gyorko (pronounced JERK-oh) on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. First baseman Luke Voit has been recalled from Memphis (AAA) and will be active for this afternoon’s game vs. Tampa Bay.
Gyorko, 29, left Saturday night’s game while running the bases in the 8th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Playing in 114 games this season, Gyorko was batting .272 with 18 home runs and a team-leading 64 RBI as the Cardinals regular third baseman.
Voit, 26, played in 43 Major League games earlier this season batting .253 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He was originally purchased by the Cardinals from Memphis on June 25 and was subsequently optioned on August 21. He batted .327 with 13 HR and 50 RBI over 74 minor league games in the Pacific Coast League.
Voit wears uniform No. 40.
Brian Walton’s take
Gyorko’s MRI results showed a mild to moderate strain and the Cardinals are optimistic that he will return to active duty before the end of the season.
The 28-year old will be missed less than during the first half, when he slashed .300/.364/.519/.882 as St. Louis’ cleanup hitter. Gyorko was moved out of that spot on his way to a disappointing second half of .213/.292/.362/.654.
It appears Voit will return to St. Louis’ bench, backing up first baseman Matt Carpenter. Voit was almost certain to be back when rosters expand in September, anyway, but now Memphis will likely have to make their playoff push without him.
Greg Garcia looks to be the primary backfill for Gyorko at third. Though Carpenter did make a handful of appearances at second base earlier this season, he has yet to return to his old regular stop at third, blocking first from Voit or perhaps even Stephen Piscotty.
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