MILWAUKEE -- The emotions ran the gamut the last time Alex Reyes took the mound at Miller Park. What began as a moment to mark the conclusion of 15 months of rehab work turned into an apprehension-filled 73-pitch outing that created more questions than it answered.

Those four innings against the Brewers last May 30 ended up being the only four Reyes threw for the Cardinals in 2018 after he required season-ending surgery to reattach a tendon in his right lat.

Reyes now returns to Miller Park a new pitcher in a new role. He’s one of five Cardinals on an Opening Day roster for the first time, and he left Spring Training boasting an expanded repertoire that has the organization dreaming of how dominant Reyes could be coming out of the ‘pen. Mostly, though, Reyes is just thrilled to be back.

“It definitely brings back memories of the injury and all that,” Reyes said of walking inside the Brewers’ home park again. “But once I got here, I really thought about the future. This is Opening Day. It’s exciting just to be in this clubhouse. I know I’ve said that a lot, but that’s really the thing.

“It’s a different day, a different year.”

Reyes will drop off the team’s Top 30 Prospects list -- on which he ranks first for the fourth consecutive year -- with the first out he collects this season. His next trip to the mound will also be only the second Reyes has made for the Cardinals since his debut season in 2016.

“I’m really happy for Alex, and proud of him also,” manager Mike Shildt said. “I’ve told him that. It’s a long road. Two years is a long time for anybody, but especially a guy who has the ability he has and the hype associated with it. He knows that people want him to get back and help us, but no [one] more than he does.”

How the Cardinals will use Reyes out of the ‘pen remains fluid. Shildt won’t be quick to pitch Reyes on back-to-back days unless his pitch count is relatively low in the first game. However, he is ready to use Reyes for multiple innings, even after watching Reyes labor through the second inning of work in his two multiple-inning appearances of spring.

Reyes’ expansive repertoire -- which includes a fastball, curveball, changeup and slider -- will also make him a fit to help neutralize some of the Brewers’ left-handed bats.

“It’s going to be fun,” Reyes said. “We have a special group with the guys back there. The bullpen will bring different situations for me, but I’m excited.”

Worth noting

• Yadier Molina (fifth) and Paul Goldschmidt (11th) rank among the most popular Major League Baseball jerseys sold since New Year’s Day 2019, according to a release by MLB. The Cardinals were one of seven teams with multiple players ranking among the Top 20 in sales.

• Shop Cardinals gear

• Cardinals principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr. traveled to Milwaukee for Thursday’s season opener and spent much of batting practice talking with players and staff behind the cage.

Cards make waiver claim

The Cardinals claimed right-hander Merandy Gonzalez off waivers from the Giants on Thursday and cleared a spot for him on the 40-man roster by transferring left-handed reliever Brett Cecil to the 60-day injured list. Cecil had to halt his throwing program earlier this month after he started losing feeling in his fingers. He was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in his left hand.

Gonzalez, who pitched in eight games for the Marlins last season, will begin the year with the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate in Springfield. In 22 Major League innings, the right-handed Gonzalez has a 5.73 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Gonzalez had been claimed off waivers by the Giants back on March 2.