photo: Ryan Helsley (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Saturday, July 20) they have recalled RHP Ryan Helsley from Memphis (AAA) and optioned INF Edmundo Sosa to Memphis (AAA) following Friday night’s game in Cincinnati.
Helsley, who turned 25 years-old on Thursday, is being recalled for the fifth time this season and spent 13 days on the Major League Injured List with a right shoulder impingement from June 13-26. The hard-throwing right-handed made seven relief appearances in St. Louis with no record and a 3.48 ERA striking out 12 in 10.1 innings with an 0.97 WHIP. In 15 appearances at Memphis this season, Helsley was 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA covering 32.0 innings making five starts with one save.
Sosa, 23, played in three games since his recall on July 16 and recorded his first Major League hit on Thursday night in Cincinnati.
Helsley will join the Cardinals for tonight’s game in Cincinnati and wears uniform No. 56.
Brian Walton’s take
With the bullpen stretched after the 12-11 win Friday, it was not surprising for the Cardinals to add the most rested 40-man roster pitcher available. It was an easy decision, as Helsley was just one of two active choices.
I outlined the situation Friday night and Saturday morning on Twitter, as Helsley had been Memphis’ scheduled starter Saturday night.
Between rehab and since coming off the IL, Helsley has thrown in six games, all in relief. 8 ER in 8 2/3 IP. Alternated good and rough appearances. Last time out was his best – 3.0 scoreless. Saturday will be his fifth day since.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 19, 2019
Or, if #stlcards want a fresh arm in the bullpen, Helsley and Webb are the 40-man choices. The latter pitched 1 1/3 innings last night, so… https://t.co/KO4OeSOcMi
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 20, 2019
Going with another pitcher creates a roster imbalance of 14 pitchers and 11 position players for St. Louis, a situation that will likely not be maintained long. The return of Matt Carpenter from the injured list may be that next step, with a pitcher going back to Memphis at that time.
Update – Whitley follows
To replace Helsley on the Memphis roster, Kodi Whitley was called up from Springfield and will be making his Triple-A debut. In 31 games at Double-A this season, Whitley posted a 1.83 ERA in 39 1/3 innings over 31 relief appearances and converted seven of nine save chances. The 24-year old struck out 10.5 batters per nine innings and walked 3.0 per nine.
Seth Elledge is starting Saturday night for the Redbirds in place of Helsley in what has become a bullpen game.
For more
To track the 25- and 40-man rosters as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.
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