photo: Daniel Ponce de Leon (Douglas DeFelice/Imagn)
The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned right-handed starting pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon to Triple-A Memphis, the second such move on Wednesday, after Austin Gomber was sent down in the morning.
Ponce de Leon had been in a four-way competition for the starting berth temporarily vacated by the injured Carlos Martinez, along with Dakota Hudson, John Gant and Gomber. Now, the battle is down to two, with both making the team. One will start and one will relieve, said manager Mike Shildt. Hudson appears to be in the lead for the rotation berth.
This spring, Ponce de Leon pitched in five games for a total of 15 1/3 innings, but yielded a total of 15 runs on 18 hits (including three home runs) and a whopping 12 walks for a spring ERA of 8.80. He fanned a dozen.
Like Gomber, Ponce de Leon is expected to rejoin the Memphis rotation until needed in St. Louis in either role – starting or relieving.
St. Louis’ spring roster is down to 40 players, 31 from the 40-man roster and nine non-roster invitees.
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