photo: Paul DeJong (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports Images)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s (Friday’s) game that they have placed shortstop Paul DeJong (fractured left hand) and right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman (blisters on right index and middle fingers) on the 10-day disabled list and have recalled infielder Yairo Muñoz and outfielder Tyler O’Neill from Memphis (AAA). Bowman’s transaction is retroactive to May 17.
DeJong, the lone player to have appeared in all 41 of the Cardinals games this season, suffered his injury after being hit by a pitch in the 8th inning of last night’s game. The second-year infielder is batting .260 with 8 HR’s and 19 RBI this season, co-leading the team in round-trippers and leading the club with 71 total bases. Since making his debut on May 28, 2017, DeJong is ranked 3rd among all Major League middle infielders (SS/2B) in home runs with 33, trailing only the Twins Brian Dozier and the Indians Francisco Lindor who both have 34.
Bowman, who paced the Cardinals with 75 appearances last season, has appeared in 17 games this year, going 0-1 with a 5.82 ERA while striking out 20 in 17.0 innings pitched.
Muñoz, who made the team out of spring training, appeared in 11 games with the Cardinals in April, batting .111 (2-for-18) and making three starts at third base. The right-handed hitting rookie infielder was batting .287 with 3 HR’s & 13 RBI for Memphis, making starts at shortstop, second base, third base, left field and center field.
O’Neill also debuted with the Cardinals earlier this season, appearing in six games. The right-handed hitting outfielder was batting .319 with a team-high 13 HR’s and 31 RBI for Memphis. O’Neill currently ranks among Pacific Coast League leaders in HR’s (13-2nd), RBI (31-T6th), OPS (1.041-6th) and batting (.319-15th).
O’Neill hit four homers in the past week for Memphis, including two on May 14 vs. Nashville.
The Cardinals disabled list has currently swelled to 10 players, with seven of those players joining the list in the past 10 days.
Munoz wears uniform no. 34 and O’Neill is no. 41.
Brian Walton’s take
As the old saying goes, if the Cardinals did not have bad luck, they would have no luck at all.
The DeJong injury is a crushing one for St. Louis, as his defense has been solid all season long and his offense was on the rise after a very high strikeout period in April. In fact, DeJong had been moved up to the very important no. 3 position in manager Mike Matheny’s batting order in recent days.
The odd thing about the hit-by-pitch that broke DeJong’s hand was that it was not originally called by the umpire and DeJong did not react as if he was hit, though replays indicated the impact was direct. It took an Umpire Review to get the call correct.
Jedd Gyorko is starting at shortstop for St. Louis on Friday evening. Other options to help cover for DeJong are Greg Garcia and Muñoz.
Perhaps O’Neill will be given a few chances in the corner outfield positions ahead of slumping starters Marcell Ozuna and Dexter Fowler.
With this change, the Cardinals go back to a traditional seven-man bullpen with five bench position players. (This assumes swingman John Gant, who should start Saturday, is counted among the five rotation members.)
In addition to the four players mentioned in this article, 14 other Cardinals minor leaguers are on the move on Friday. They will be broken down in a separate article for TCN members to be posted early Friday evening. Be back soon!
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Monthly Cardinals Top 50 Prospect Rankings – May 2018
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. Annual members may purchase our new 193-page 2018 Prospect Guide for less than half price. Our limited edition printed edition is sold out.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
© 2018 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.