photo: Daniel Ponce de Leon (Douglas DeFelice/Imagn)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s game (Tuesday, June 25), that they have recalled right-handed pitchers Daniel Ponce de Leon and Dominic Leone from Memphis (AAA). The team also announced that right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks (right elbow) has been placed on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to June 23, and that left-handed pitcher Génesis Cabrera was optioned to Memphis.
Ponce de Leon, who worked 6.0 scoreless innings in a start last Wednesday (June 19) vs. Miami, is being recalled for a third time this season. He’s 0-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts (15.0 IP) for St. Louis this season.
Leone, who was optioned to Memphis on May 17, has appeared in 13 games for the triple-A Redbirds, going 0-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 13 games. He’s had a strong showing in June, posting a 1.64 ERA in seven games while fanning 12 batters in 11.0 innings of work. Leone appeared in 20 games for the Cardinals earlier this season, allowing 19 runs in 21.1 innings pitched despite 27 strikeouts.
Hicks, who was 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA and 14 saves in his 29 games pitched, was diagnosed with a torn UCL yesterday after exiting Saturday’s (June 22) game in the 9th inning. Cabrera, a rookie, has appeared in five games (two starts) for the Cardinals this season, going 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA.
Brian Walton’s take
40-man relief options in Memphis were slim, though as noted above, Leone has been better lately. Ponce de Leon makes sense as an addition even if not needed to start as he can cover multiple innings. He last threw on the 19th so should be fully rested.
We will see if Cabrera returns to the Memphis rotation or is moved to relief. My guess is that the lefty will continue to start.
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