Injuries & Moves: X-rays negative for Crawford; Nootbaar progressing
LATEST NEWS
March 17: SS Brandon Crawford exits game after hit-by-pitch; X-rays negative
Crawford was hit by a pitch on his left wrist in the bottom of the second inning in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Astros. After staying in to run the bases, he was replaced on defense by José Fermín before the top of the third. Crawford underwent X-rays after coming out of the game, which came back clear.
March 16: RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm strain) shut down for 10 days, to start season on IL
Middleton will be shut down for 10 days after straining his right forearm, manager Oliver Marmol said. Middleton recently underwent an MRI that revealed the strain in his right forearm, and he will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Marmol said.
Middleton, 30, last pitched on March 7 and has been dealing with lingering pain in his right arm for several days. In three scoreless innings over three outings this spring, Middleton has allowed just two hits while striking out two and walking none.
Andrew Kittredge and Middleton were the Cardinals' two primary additions to the bullpen this offseason. The Middleton injury opens opportunities for newcomers Riley O’Brien, Ryan Fernandez or Nick Robertson to potentially make the Opening Day roster. O’Brien has been one of the team’s most electrifying relievers in Spring Training, while Fernandez is a Rule 5 pick and must stay on the roster all season or be offered back to the Red Sox should he clear waivers.
March 15: RHP Sonny Gray (right hamstring strain) to throw in latest rehab assignment
Gray, who strained his right hamstring on March 4, will pitch in a simulated pregame situation on Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium against hitters standing in the box, but not swinging. It is the next step in Gray’s rehabilitation program, one that the Cardinals hope ends with him pitching in their opening series against the Dodgers on March 28-31.
To further simulate game-like conditions, Gray will also sit down after a number of pitches and throw a limited second round of pitches. The Cardinals are hopeful that the session will lead to Gray being able to face live hitting next week -- potentially in a Grapefruit League game.
Gray, the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2023, signed a three-year, $75 million free-agent contract with the Cardinals in November.
March 14: Cardinals send 10 players to Minor League camp, trim Spring Training roster to 46
Tekoah Roby, the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Cardinals’ system per MLB Pipeline, was one of 10 players sent to the club’s Minor League camp on Thursday. The moves allowed the Redbirds to trim their Spring Training roster to 46 players.
The team optioned right-handed pitcher Sem Robberse to Triple-A Memphis. Right-handers Gordon Graceffo, Ryan Loutos and Michael McGreevy; left-handers Connor Thomas and Roby; catchers Aaron Antonini and Jimmy Crooks and infielders Arquímedes Gamboa and Jeremy Rivas were reassigned to the team’s Minor League camp.
The Cards have 38 Major League roster players and eight non-roster invitees in their big league Spring Training camp.
Roby, Graceffo and Robberse are scheduled to pitch in St. Louis’ Spring Breakout game at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, when top prospects for the Cardinals will face top prospects for the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. More of the Cards’ top young talent will face prospects from the Astros organization on Sunday morning in another Spring Breakout contest.
March 14: CF Tommy Edman (right wrist surgery) to miss Opening Day
Tommy Edman, whose Spring Training has been ruined by lingering inflammation and swelling in his right wrist, will open the season on the injured list, manager Oliver Marmol said on Thursday. Edman, the club’s projected starter in center field, has yet to hit off live pitching because of trouble with a wrist that was operated on in October. Marmol said on Thursday that Edman would be shut down for the next week in hopes that the inflammation in his wrist dissipates. It is the third time this spring that Edman has been shut down from all hitting drills. Read more >>
INJURY UPDATES
LF Lars Nootbaar (rib fractures)
Expected return: Early April
Following a meeting with doctors, Nootbaar was allowed to start throwing from 90 feet on March 17. Nootbaar suffered two nondisplaced fractured ribs on his left side on March 2 when his elbow jammed between the left-field wall and his abdomen while trying to make a twisting catch in the outfield.
Manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar will continue to ramp up the intensity of his rotational work in the coming days in hopes that he will be cleared to hit soon. His progress will be dependent on further evaluations of the healing process and his pain tolerance. While out of action, Nootbaar has continued to stand in on bullpen sessions in hopes of retaining his timing at the plate. Marmol said Nootbaar's readiness for the season-opening series against the Dodgers March 28-31 has yet to be determined.
“A certain level of at-bats where he is comfortable with his timing more than anything,” said Marmol when asked what it would take for Nootbaar to be ready by Opening Day. “We’re not going to rush just for him to be ready for Opening Day and his timing not being there. ... I wouldn’t put a number on [exhibition games]; it’s just about his comfort level and rhythm. He’s been tracking a ton during bullpens and [batting practices], so it would just be a matter of timing.” (Last updated: March 17)
RHP Sonny Gray (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Next week in a Spring Training game
Gray will pitch in a simulated pregame situation on Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium against hitters standing in the box, but not swinging. It is the next step in Gray’s rehabilitation program, one that the Cardinals hope ends with him pitching in their opening series against the Dodgers on March 28-31.
The Cardinals are hopeful that the session will lead to Gray being able to face live hitting next week -- potentially in a Grapefruit League game. (Last update: March 15)
CF Tommy Edman (right wrist surgery)
Expected return: Mid April
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol made it official on March 14: Center fielder Tommy Edman won’t be available for Opening Day. Edman, who had surgery in October on his right wrist, was shut down for a third time when inflammation and swelling continued to linger. Edman recently got second and third opinions on his wrist, and he said those tests revealed he is being bothered by inflammation and not a structural issue. Marmol said that Edman -- who has yet to hit live pitching this spring -- will be shut down for a week before resuming hitting drills. (Last updated: March 14)