JUPITER, Fla. -- Luke Weaver, the Cardinals' third-ranked prospect, will miss the first month of the season after fracturing his left wrist during a recent workout in Minor League camp. His non-throwing hand will remain in a cast for approximately the next four weeks.
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Weaver was a participant in big league Spring Training until he was reassigned on March 13. He was singled out by multiple members of the Cardinals' staff for being among the most improved from last year, and he made three Grapefruit League appearances before shifting clubhouses. In five innings, Weaver allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five.
After posting a 1.62 ERA in 19 Class A Advanced starts and thriving in the Arizona Fall League last year, the 22-year-old Weaver was expected to open the season as a member of the Double-A Springfield rotation. Instead, this will be the second straight year in which he has been sidelined in April.
Last year, Weaver was delayed from making his season debut until mid-May because of tightness in his right arm. It was to be his first full season in the Minors after being taken by the Cardinals with the 27th overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
Weaver's injury means that two of the Cardinals' top three prospects will not be on the field in April. Top prospect Alex Reyes will miss the first 40 games of the Minor League season as he finishes serving a suspension related to a positive drug test for marijuana last fall.