photo: Andre Pallante (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Monday, April 4) that rookie right-handed pitcher Andre Pallante has made the team’s 28-player Opening Day roster. The team will make a corresponding (40-man) roster move prior to Thursday’s game to make room for Pallante on its 40-player Major League roster.
The team also announced today that pitcher Jake Walsh has been optioned to Memphis (AAA), and that pitcher Connor Thomas, catcher Julio Rodriguez and infielder Cory Spangenberg have been re-assigned to the minors.
In addition, right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty (right shoulder) has been placed on the 10-day Injured List.
The Cardinals Spring Training roster is currently at 28 players with the team set to break camp following tomorrow morning’s 11:05 a.m. ET game against Miami.
Brian Walton’s take
Some may wonder why the Cardinals set their Opening Day roster three days ahead. The reason is that Triple-A Memphis begins its season on Tuesday, so by communicating the moves now, the cut players can join the Redbirds in time for their opener.
A newspaper report earlier Monday that Thomas made the team as the third left-hander out of the bullpen and last reliever of the roster was erroneous. Walsh had the inside track from the roster perspective, with a 40-man spot already in hand, but Pallante earned the nod with his mound work instead.
Pallante, The Cardinal Nation’s no. 13 prospect, is coming off a strong 2021, concluding in the Arizona Fall League. In his first big-league camp, the 23-year-old impressed, posting a 0.00 ERA in 3 2/3 innings on just one hit, one walk and four strikeouts. St. Louis’ fourth round selection in the 2019 draft also converted his only save opportunity this spring.
By Opening Day, Thursday, April 7 at Busch Stadium, Pallante should be able move down from his spring training no. 91 uniform number.
The last homegrown pitchers to make the Cardinals out of spring camp as non-roster invitees were Jordan Hicks in 2018 and Kodi Whitley in 2020. Both are also members of the new 2022 team.
Updates 4/7:
The #stlcards' 40-man roster move needed to accommodate the addition of Andre Pallante is the outrighting of Memphis LHP Brandon Waddell.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) April 7, 2022
Befitting his newly earned status as a major leaguer, #stlcards RHP Andre Pallante moves from his spring training no. 91 to no. 53. The latter was worn by Johan Quezada this spring and John Gant prior. pic.twitter.com/xk1TsJCOzG
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) April 7, 2022
For the full roster… and more
To view all players on the Opening Day roster (and every other player in the system, too) by position, check out the always-free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation.
St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix – 2022 Spring Training
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