photo: Juan Yepez (D. Ross Cameron/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals announcement
We have made the following roster moves ahead of tonight’s game:
INF/OF Juan Yepez has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).
OF Lars Nootbaar (left thumb contusion) has been placed on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to March 31. pic.twitter.com/sHH2vOywyp
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 3, 2023
Brian Walton’s take
Nootbaar was injured on a headfirst slide attempt on Opening Day, when he batted second and played in left field. The 25-year-old went 1-for-4 with a run scored, two walks and a strikeout on Thursday.
The timing is never good to go on the IL, but Nootbaar was coming off the World Baseball Classic during which he became an international sensation.
With the move made retroactively, the soonest Nootbaar could return is Monday, April 10. Imaging taken over the weekend came back clean.
The beneficiaries of this move appear to be Dylan Carlson and especially Alec Burleson, who seem to have opened the season as the fourth and fifth outfielders. Now, one of two may be in the lineup most days while Nootbaar is out, though Yepez could certainly start now and then, too.
Yepez, 25, was off to a slow start with Memphis, reaching base three times (single and two walks) in 13 plate appearances to open the season with an early slash line of .091/.231/.091/.322. He struck out four times and stole a base.
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