ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals spent close to an hour before Monday’s Summer Camp workout speaking about social justice, inclusion and awareness with Turan Mullins, assistant dean and director of the office of diversity and inclusion at Maryville University in St. Louis.
The discussion centered around education on how the Black Lives Matter movement started, where it is now and how coaches and players can be aware of the social justice issues confronting America right now.
“How we can do our part to help it get there and to listen to the change that’s necessary for equality of all people,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said of the topics discussed. “And just everybody having a fair shot at life, really, in an even playing field, just like we ask for every time we get out on the field. Same thing off the field, we just want people to have the freedom and opportunity and an even playing field from the very starting point of people’s lives and as they progress in life.
“It was outstanding, and we’re going to follow up a little bit more [Tuesday] in our internal clubhouse and talk about it.”
Shildt said Monday’s discussion was a combination of the clubhouse leaders wanting to put something together and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak organizing Mullins to come to Busch Stadium to speak with the team.
“Just making sure we’re doing our part in the clubhouse,” Shildt said. “So us working in concert with [the players], and then the front office and Mo putting it together to where it’s coordinated in more of a formal setting for players and staff.”
Gomber, Ponce de Leon make team
Four days before Opening Day, the Cardinals' pitching staff is coming together. The rotation is set and the closer is named (Kwang Hyun Kim), which will now lead to more decisions about roles and who St. Louis will carry on its 30-man roster to start the season. The Cards will likely carry 16 pitchers on the roster to start, Shildt said.
Two of those pitchers will be Austin Gomber and Daniel Ponce de Leon. Shildt said Monday that both had been told they made the team, a first out of camp for both.
“It’s one of the best things you can do is tell a guy he’s on the big league club with the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day,” Shildt said. “They both more than earned it.”
Gomber and Ponce de Leon are both built up to throw multiple innings, but they’ll be used in a variety of roles out of the bullpen. Both have the swing-and-miss stuff of a late-inning reliever, and Gomber adds another lefty to the ‘pen.
Camp notes
• The Cardinals will hold their final intrasquad game Tuesday evening with Dakota Hudson -- who will start Sunday against the Pirates -- getting the nod. Kim will be one of the pitchers to take the mound after Hudson. St. Louis plans to play an eight- or nine-inning game, with first pitch set for 5:15 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on cardinals.com.
• Reliever Kodi Whitley was the latest rookie to sing the national anthem before Monday’s batting practice and simulated games. Jake Woodford sang the anthem Sunday, after Miles Mikolas sprung the idea on him when the two were going through conditioning drills.