photo: Matt Carpenter (Jon Durr/USA TODAY Sports)
Matt Carpenter has been placed on the St. Louis Cardinals’ injured list with Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras also missing the home opener.
The recently completed series in San Diego was costly to the St. Louis Cardinals’ roster. In Wednesday’s finale, Brendan Donovan (right triceps) and Willson Contreras (left, glove hand) were hit by pitches, knocking them out of Thursday’s home opening lineup. However, neither has been placed on the injured list, at least yet.
Infielder Matt Carpenter was not as fortunate, though. The 38-year-old suffered a right oblique strain that led the team to place him on the 10-day IL on Thursday. The injury is not believed to be serious, but obliques can be tricky.
Carpenter last played on Monday, with the IL move retroactive to Tuesday, April 2. He has three singles in 11 plate appearances in his Cardinals return.
In the corresponding transaction, catcher Pedro Pagés was recalled from Memphis. Clearly the choice is insurance against Contreras’ injury.
In the off-season, Pagés, 25, was added to the 40-man roster to serve as the third catcher in waiting this season. Little did The Cardinal Nation’s 28th-ranked prospect know his first MLB opportunity would come so quickly.
In his 12 plate appearances with Memphis to date in 2024, Pagés has two walks and two hits, with one a home run and the other good for two bases.
The other catchers currently on Memphis’ roster are Nick Raposo and newcomer Gavin Collins.
Carpenter becomes the eighth player on St. Louis’ injured list, joining pitchers Sonny Gray, Keynan Middleton, Riley O’Brien and Drew Rom along with outfielders Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson.
Minor league transaction
On April 1, the organization announced the signing of international free agent infielder Rainiel Rodriguez. The 17-year-old hails from the Dominican Republic and is listed at 5-foot-10, 197 pounds. The right-handed Rodriguez has been assigned to the roster of the rookie-level Dominican Summer League Cardinals.
Rodriguez is the Cardinals’ 13th signing from the 2024 international class.
For more
To see all players in the system by level and position plus every transaction all year ‘round, check out the always free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation, refreshed today.
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