photo: Tyler O’Neill (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals optioned outfielder Tyler O’Neill to Triple-A Memphis to accommodate the addition of Saturday’s starting pitcher, Jack Flaherty.
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s (Saturday’s) game that they have recalled rookie right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty from Memphis (AAA) and optioned outfielder Tyler O’Neill to the triple-A Redbirds. Flaherty is scheduled to start tonight’s game for the Cardinals.
Flaherty made one start for the Cardinals earlier this season, striking out nine in 5.0 innings pitched on April 3 at Milwaukee in a no-decision. The 22-year-old has made seven career appearances (six starts) in the majors and is 0-2 with a 5.57 ERA while striking out 29 in his 26.1 innings.
Flaherty was optioned to Memphis on April 4, and in three starts for the Redbirds, went 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA, including a 7.0 inning complete game win at Omaha in his most recent start (April 19).
O’Neill, 22, appeared in six games for the Cardinals following his April 19 recall from Memphis, including his Major League debut in a pinch-hit appearance the day he was promoted.
Flaherty wears uniform no. 32.
Brian Walton’s take
There was minimal surprise in the third pair of roster moves by St. Louis in the last three days. The Flaherty move had been announced earlier in the week, making the only minor suspense to be who would be sent down to make room.
The decision means the eight-man bullpen and four-man bench configuration returns, in what seems to be the team’s standard.
In his MLB debut stint, O’Neill had a small chance to displace Harrison Bader as the Cardinals’ fourth outfielder, but in very limited action, the 22-year old did little. Specifically, O’Neill had no hits in nine plate appearances with his highlights being a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly. The right-handed hitter made just one start and overall, struck out three times in seven official at-bats.
O’Neill should be back later in the season, but in the meantime, he should return to punishing Pacific Coast League pitchers.
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