Cardinals purchase lefty pitcher Tyler Lyons

SAN DIEGO, Calif., May 22, 2013 - The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have purchased left-handed pitcher Tyler Lyons from Memphis (AAA) and placed right-handed pitcher Fernando Salas on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 21, due to right shoulder inflammation. Lyons, 25, will make his Major League debut tonight when he gets the starting assignment in the Cardinals series finale at San Diego.

Lyons was drafted by the Cardinals in the 9th round (289th player overall) of the 2010 June draft out of Oklahoma State University. The Lubbock, TX native was 2-1 with a 4.47 ERA in eight starts for Memphis this season. He threw a no-hitter for Palm Beach (A) in 2011 in just his seventh career professional start.

Lyons roster addition gives the Cardinals seven pitchers who are currently 25 years of age or younger (note: Lance Lynn recently turned 26 on May 12) and he becomes the fourth to make his big league debut this season, joining Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez and John Gast. He and Gast become the first pair of rookie Cardinals left-handers to start games in the same season since 1980 when John Martin and Al Olmsted both did so.

The Cardinals pitching staff is currently comprised of a Major League-leading six rookie pitchers who have combined to win 10 games this season.
 
Salas, 27, was 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 15 relief appearances totaling 16.1 innings pitched. He worked 1/3-inning on Monday in the opening game of the San Diego series.

Lyons will wear uniform no. 70.