Cardinals Place Jedd Gyorko on Injured List; Promote Tommy Edman

photo: Tommy Edman (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn)

St. Louis Cardinals press release

Jedd Gyorko (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s game (Saturday, June 8), that they have purchased  rookie infielder Tommy Edman from Memphis (AAA) and placed infielder Jedd Gyorko (lower back strain) on the 10-day Injured List.   The team also announced that Springfield (AA) right-handed pitcher Merandy Gonzalez has been designated for assignment, making room for Edman on the team’s 40-man roster.

Tommy Edman (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Edman, 24, had a team-leading .305 (60-for-197) batting mark in 49 games at Memphis to go along with 7 HR’s and 29 RBI.    The 5-10, 185-pound San Diego, Calif. native was batting .366 (15-for-32) with runners in scoring position, collecting 21 of his 29 RBI in those at-bats.   Edman, a switch-hitter, has a .349 (15-for-43) batting mark vs. left-handed pitchers and a .292 (45-for-145) average and 5 HR’s against righties in 2019.

A sixth round draft selection (196th player overall) by the Cardinals in 2016 out of Stanford University, Edman has been nearly flawless in the field this season (one error) while playing four different positions, including second base (25 games), shortstop (10), third base (9) and center field (2).

Edman is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts this season after leading all Cardinals minor leaguers last season with his 30 stolen bases between Springfield (27) and Memphis (3).  He has been successful in 71 of 84 stolen base attempts (85 pct.) during his minor league career.

Gyorko, who made the start at third base for the Cardinals yesterday, appearing in his 38th game, is leading the team with his 21 pinch-hit at-bats.   The 23-year-old Gonzalez, acquired March 28 via waivers from the San Francisco Giants, was 2-2 with four saves in 23 games between Springfield (AA) and Palm Beach (A).

Edman has been assigned uniform no. 19 and will be making his Major League debut with his first game appearance.   He will become the fifth Cardinal to debut in 2019, joining Lane Thomas, Ryan Helsley, Génesis Cabrera and Andrew Knizner.


Brian Walton’s take

Merandy Gonzalez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Edman is The Cardinal Nation’s 10th-ranked prospect. It is notable that he was added to the 40-man and promoted ahead of other Memphis infielders already on the roster – Edmundo Sosa, Ramon Urias and Drew Robinson – as well as non-roster infielder Max Schrock. Edman’s move to the front of the line is a reflection of his strong 2019 to date, including St. Louis’ spring training camp.

Though not mentioned in the release, reliever Gonzalez has struggled at Springfield, with a 6.75 ERA in 21 appearances. He has allowed 33 hits and walked 19 more in just 24 innings for a 2.17 WHIP and a .337 batting average against. In other words, the chances of him being claimed by another organization off waivers seem slim.

Memphis’ roster replacement for Edman has not yet been named.


For more

To track the Cardinals’ 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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