MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cardinals made a flurry of moves on Friday, selecting the contract of infielder Blaze Jordan from Triple-A Memphis, recalling right-hander Chris Roycroft from Memphis and optioning third baseman Nolan Gorman and right-hander Hunter Dobbins to Memphis. The team also transferred Ramón Urías to the 60-day injured list.
Jordan, the No. 25 prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline, made his Major League debut and immediately made an impact during a 9-8 loss to the Twins, recording an RBI single in his first at-bat that gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead in the second inning.
“It’s a special moment. I worked my whole life for that moment,” Jordan said.
Jordan ended up going 2-for-4 while hitting eighth and playing third base. Jordan is expected to be at that position on an everyday basis.
“[Jordan] did a really nice job. He seemed relaxed. He was in the moment. He had some really good at-bats. He did exactly as advertised. He took some big swings for us today,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “The lineup has some length to it. It’s a nice little lineup. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
Jordan acknowledged that he was nervous until he saw his family in the stands at the early part of the game.
“When I knew that they made it, I kind of relaxed a little bit,” Jordan said. “I think they actually missed my first hit. But once I saw that they made it, I was able to relax, especially for that long drive [they made from Mississippi].”
Jordan earned the promotion after slashing .313/.373/.548 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 57 games. Jordan was acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for left-hander Steven Matz during last year’s Trade Deadline.
Jordan said he has been more consistent in the batter’s box because he simplified his approach at the plate and doesn’t panic whenever he goes into a slump.
“I simplified my stance, first of all. I try to make less movement and just be more consistent,” Jordan said. “I just trust myself and my hands. I have the power. I didn’t need to try and create it. Not much besides that. I felt I came into the season really strong.
“What I felt like I’ve done really well this year is – when I’m not doing so well, I’m able to figure it out really well. Unlike last year, when I was searching for a while. Now, I’m able to make quick adjustments. Working with [Memphis hitting coach] Howie Clark and others down there really helped me.”
Gorman hit 27 home runs and had an OPS+ of 116 in 2023, but the left-handed-hitting slugger hasn’t come close to those numbers since. He needs to cut down on his strikeouts; he whiffed 74 times in 201 at-bats (37 percent) and had a .194 batting average before he was sent down.
Marmol made it clear on Friday that the team is not giving up on Gorman. The Cardinals are going to try to fix him the way they did with Jordan Walker. First, Gorman will go to the hitting lab without playing in any games. The question is, will he do it in Memphis or go to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., to refine his swing?
“There is no exact number of days to this, but the first part is going back down and [just work on his swing], no games and figure out a way to revamp the swing in order to where he is comfortable with it and test it in a game setting,” Marmol said. “We can be a heck of a lot better if he is back here at some point, especially with the improvements he has made defensively. I communicated it that way to him. He was a pro about it and understood it. He feels like he has been given an opportunity. He is at a place where he needs to figure some things out.”
Roycroft, 28, made the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster and has appeared in 52 career games in the Majors, including five in 2026. During his time with Memphis, his slider has been clocked in the high-90s mph. Roycroft will work out of the bullpen as a middle reliever.
Dobbins last pitched for the Cardinals on Thursday against the Mets, allowing three runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Cardinals see him as a starter, so he will be stretched out while he is in Memphis. The Major League club will use its regular rotation, which includes Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Dustin May, Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante.
Urías is not expected back any time soon because he has left tennis elbow. He had something similar in his right elbow. Urías hasn’t played a game since May 3.