Cardinals Promote Ponce de Leon to Start Tuesday

photo: Daniel Ponce de Leon (Douglas DeFelice/Imagn)

St. Louis Cardinals press release

Daniel Ponce de Leon (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s (Tuesday, April 23) game with Milwaukee, that they have recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon from Memphis (AAA) and optioned infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson to the triple-A Redbirds.   Ponce de Leon is scheduled to start tonight’s game for St. Louis.

The 27-year-old Ponce de Leon, who will be making his first appearance of 2019 for the Cardinals, was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three starts for Memphis this season, including a six inning effort last Wednesday (April 17) in a win against San Antonio.

Tyler O’Neill (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Ponce de Leon, who made his Major League debut last July 23 in a memorable game at Cincinnati with seven no-hit innings, was 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 11 games (four starts) for the Cardinals last season.  The Southern California native was a Pacific Coast League All-Star in 2018, going 9-4 with a 2.24 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) for Memphis.

“Ponce” had a 2.79 ERA in his four starts for St. Louis last season, striking out 22 in 19.1 innings pitched while holding the opposition to a .206 batting average.

Ponce de Leon wears uniform no. 62.

The Cardinals also announced today that outfielder Tyler O’Neill (right elbow ulnar nerve subluxation) is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment tonight with Springfield (AA).  O’Neill went on the 10-day Injured List on April 16.


Brian Walton’s take

Drew Robinson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

It was previously understood that Ponce de Leon would be promoted to start in the spot of injured Michael Wacha on Tuesday night.

With Wacha supposedly only slated to miss one turn through the rotation, Ponce de Leon could be returned to Memphis as soon as Wednesday for a fresh reliever or bench bat.

Speaking of… Robinson’s one-game stint with St. Louis was designed to give them an extra reserve for Monday’s series opener with Milwaukee.

Robinson was a late-game replacement in the blowout win, getting a pinch hit single to raise his average with St. Louis to .143. He then took over for defensively-challenged Jose Martinez in right field.


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