Cards send 11 to Minors; Ortega impresses

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals reassigned 11 players to their Minor League camp Monday, manager Mike Matheny announced following the team's 6-3 win against the Astros at Roger Dean Stadium.
Among those sent down was left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales, who still is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he had about 11 months ago. Gonzales has been working behind the scenes with a few bullpen sessions during Spring Training, and it's possible he could wrap up his recovery by the end of May.
"Once Marco gets healthy, it's just a matter of how well he's able to execute his pitches," Matheny said of the left-hander's potential return to the Cardinals.
The other players reassigned were RHP Sandy Alcantara, INF Eliezer Álvarez, RHP Jack Flaherty, LHP Austin Gomber, C Andrew Knizner, C Jeremy Martinez, C Dennis Ortega, RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon, RHP Robby Rowland and INF Edmundo Sosa.
Matheny praised all of them, and said he was especially impressed with Ortega's work in camp.
"Dennis really showed a lot of moxie behind the plate," Matheny said of the 19-year-old prospect. "He catches older than 19, and I think you're going to see a high ceiling with him. ... All of them have had a good spring. The development staff has done such a great job. It just seems every one of these kids, they're coming in and they just look a little more refined. They've been really on top of their game, and you can tell they have a lot of things to look forward to."