photo: John Mozeliak via Zoom (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced five roster additions for this weekend’s series with the Chicago White Sox by selecting to the Major League roster from the Alternate Training Site OF Dylan Carlson, 1B John Nogowski, RHP Seth Elledge, LHP Rob Kaminsky and recall LHP Ricardo Sánchez as the 29th man for Saturday’s doubleheader. All five players would be make their Major League debut when they first appear in a game.
The Cardinals placed LHP Austin Gomber on the Injured List although he has not tested positive for COVID-19, but was a factored in a recent investigation of contact tracing. Gomber joins OF Austin Dean, OF Lane Thomas and RHP Ryan Helsley announced on the Injured List earlier this week.
Carlson, 21, entered the 2020 campaign as the No. 1 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America and MLB.com, and earned the Cardinals 2019 Minor League Player of the Year. The switch-hitting outfielder batted .292 with 26 home runs, 68 RBI, 28 doubles, eight triples, 20 stolen bases and 95 runs scored in 126 games between Springfield (AA) and Memphis (AAA) in 2019.
Nogowski, 27, was originally a 34th round pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2014 out of Florida State University, before the Cardinals signed him as a free agent in 2017. Baseball America voted him “Best Defensive First Baseman” in the Pacific Coast League in 2019 by Baseball America and had the “Best Strike Zone Discipline”. Nogowski batted .295 with 15 HR, 75 RBI and a .413 OBP in Memphis in 2019.
Kaminsky, 25, was originally a Cardinals first round draft pick (28th overall) in 2013, but was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2015 for OF/1B Brandon Moss, and was re-acquired as a free agent signee by the Cardinals this past December.
Elledge, 24, is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in 2018 for RHP Sam Tuivailala.
Sánchez, 23, was a waiver claim by the Cardinals in February after spending time with the Angels, Braves and recently Mariners organizations, leading the Texas League with 27 games started in 2019.
Joining the coaching staff in Chicago will be José Oquendo and Roberto Espinoza. Oquendo, 57, a veteran of 12 Major League seasons as a player, was coaching the Cardinals Alternate Training Site in Springfield, Mo., and was added to the current coaching roster as the third base coach, a position he held on the Major League staff from 1999-2015 and 2018 under managers Tony La Russa and Mike Matheny. Espinoza, 31, was manager of the 2019 Appalachian League Champion Johnson City Cardinals and has previous Major League experience on the 2014 St. Louis Cardinals as the bullpen assistant and media translator for Spanish-speaking players.
RHP Nabil Crismatt, RHP Ryan Meisinger and RHP Jesús Cruz join C José Godoy on the Cardinals taxi squad with the team in Chicago.
The Cardinals added RHP Bryan Dobzanski, C Pedro Pages (pah-hez) and INF Kramer Robertson to the Alternate Training Site and report to Springfield.
Carlson (3) and Nogowski (34) will change uniform numbers, while Elledge (61), Sánchez (64), Kaminsky (67) and will retain their Spring Training numbers.
Ed note:
In other uniform number news, Oquendo has assumed the use of no. 91. Paul DeJong currently wears his customary no. 11. Other recent coaching arrivals are Roberto Espinoza (90) and Russ Steinhorn (87).
Great to have The Secret Weapon back! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/XoSLoBuK5J
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) August 15, 2020
For more details on all the new arrivals:
Top Prospect Carlson Headlines Reinforcements Joining Cardinals
John Mozeliak’s remarks
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Cardinals president of baseball operations met with the media via Zoom. A summary of his comments follow.
Thrilled about the opportunity and next step. Committed to tighter protocols. Today feels like Opening Day. Health and good fortune is what they need.
Thanked many departments in the organization for their work in getting the team back on the field as well as MLB commissioner’s office.
Notified late Friday night that all tests were negative so knew they would be cleared to play Saturday.
It would be a bit ambitious and highly unlikely that any of the 10 players who tested positive will rejoin the team in Chicago. Hopeful that several can begin the return process today – physicals and tests. Next step would be two days of light workouts at Busch – catch, running. Then transition to Springfield alternate camp for 3-4 days. Will provide names later today or tomorrow. (Mo did not note that any player return must also be approved by the MLB Joint Committee.)
Gomber will be added on this road trip. Will imagine he will start. They have a lot of games to cover.
On the 29th man, the player to be taken off after the doubleheader will be based on usage that day. It does not have to be Ricardo Sanchez, designated as the 29th man on Saturday. Essentially, they are working with a 29-man roster.
Challenge ahead is doable and daunting, but glad they can do it.
On the rumor of increasing the pool from 60 to 75 players, he has not heard that it is decided, but if so, he would try to get younger players in (to the alternate camp). But hasn’t thought a lot about it.
On whether he has disciplined or reprimanded any players – “No, I haven’t.” Attaching a negative stigma to COVID is not the way to keep the game running. Players must want to fully cooperate in contact tracing. Need honesty and transparency in support of tracing to stop the spread.
Team took BP last two days via a machine so it has been a while for live pitching. It will be interesting to see how they look.
The hitting coaches not here can still do Zoom calls and be involved. Russ (Steinhorn) is kind of a one-man band at this moment. New opportunities for people. All hands on deck.
Aware that St. Louis media is not being credentialed by the White Sox. Cannot speak to city laws/rules. With StL being a hot spot, can’t decide right answer (for Busch access) based on the last two weeks. The White Sox have to make their own decision and I respect that. Not my rules.
Have heard nothing about minimum number of games to qualify for post-season. Playing Game 6 today. Get through today.
Low points in last two weeks were two. First was the Sunday in Milwaukee when realized there would be double-digit COVID cases. Other was this last Thursday when got phone call during dinner that someone felt sick and had a rapid test that was positive. “Friday was like watching a car crash over and over.”
On opting out: Players believe we are trying to have tight protocols. Bad luck if you get it – how quick you learn to manage it is key. All player discussions have been on the optimistic side.
Now the challenge is to manage innings and keep players balanced and fresh.
On the roster: We do have depth. We might be rusty and timing not right. It will come around and we will start getting players back. Will be like mid-season trades. Have a lot of confidence in roster, for young guys to get a chance.
On John Nogowski: Last November, debated whether to put on (40-man) roster or not. Such a fun phone call to make (to tell a player he is being promoted). Now do they get the opportunity here? Hopes everyone gets the chance to take the field and contribute.
On the spread of the virus: Had tight rooms in Minneapolis. Some thought they were healthy, but they weren’t. Had close talks while maskless. Also, the dining halls were suspected. At Busch, they will be told to eat in the stands or set up tables with one chair at each.
Hasn’t looked at standings (yet acknowledged a 12-3 team). Have been focused on getting on field. Win or loss, will probably still smile today.
Full roster detail at The Cardinal Nation
To view the two 2020 rosters and to track the status of the Cardinals’ 60-man pool, 40-man roster 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.
Detailed team rosters for the entire system can be accessed via the red menu column at the top left (see “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES”).
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