photo: Daniel Ponce de Leon (Jim Rassol/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s game that they have activated right-handed pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon (right shoulder inflammation) and first baseman/outfielder John Nogowski (left hand bone bruise) from the 10-day Injured List. The team also announced that outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left middle finger fracture) has been placed on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to May 17, and that right-handed pitcher Junior Fernandez was optioned to Memphis (AAA).
Ponce de Leon (1-1, 8.71) has made five appearances with the Cardinals this season, including two starts. He made a pair of starts for Memphis during an injury rehabilitation stint, totaling 3.0 scoreless innings. Ponce de Leon missed 14 games while on the Injured List since April 29.
Nogowski, who began the season on the Cardinals Opening Day roster, missed 24 games after going on the Injured List on April 20. The right-handed hitting Nogowski appeared in eight games with Memphis during his injury rehabilitation, and batted .250 (7-for-28) with a .344 on-base pct. and 4 RBI.
O’Neill, injured in Sunday night’s game at San Diego, is appearing on the Injured List for the second time this season. O’Neill was also sidelined April 11-22 with a right groin strain. The slugging outfielder is batting .250 (25-for-100) this season with 8 HR’s and 18 RBI in 30 games. Three of O’Neill’s 8 HR’s had come in his last six games.
Fernandez, who joined the active roster this past weekend, appeared in relief on Saturday, working one inning.
Brian Walton’s take
Ponce de Leon, who began the season among the starting five, but lost his spot before his injury, will return to a long relief role and is not in rotation plans.
Before Tuesday’s game, Cardinals VP of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak disclosed that injured starters Miles Mikolas and Carlos Martinez may return to the active roster as soon as this coming weekend. Martinez is throwing a side session on Tuesday and if he recovers normally on Wednesday, weekend rotation plans will be disclosed. Manager Mike Shildt added that once the two off-days this week are past, a return to the six-man rotation is likely.
O’Neill’s non-displaced fracture in his finger will be tested in about a week with the hope that the left field starter can return in 10 to 14 days.
Nogowski will return to a pinch-hitting role and also would be a candidate to see some time in left field with O’Neill out.
For more
To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster 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.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide
Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.