The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that outfielder/first baseman Jose Martinez (left groin) has been placed on the 10-day disabled list and that rookie outfielder Magneuris Sierra has been recalled from Palm Beach (A), and will join the team for this afternoon's game in Atlanta.
Sierra, 21, will be making his first appearance in the majors. The left-handed hitting native of San Cristobol, Dominican Republic, was the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the Gulf Coast League with a .386 batting average and a .434 on-base pct.
Sierra was batting .272 (22-for-81) with a .337 on-base pct. for Palm Beach, ranking T2nd in the Florida State League with four triples in his 20 games played. In 361 career games in the minors, Sierra has compiled a .297 batting average with a .345 on-base pct. and 81 stolen bases.
Sierra joins Albert Pujols (2001) and Miguel Mejia (1996) as the most recent Cardinals' position players to debut at age 21. He has been assigned uniform no. 43.
The Cardinals have had three of their outfielders suffer injuries in the past three days, including Stephen Piscotty (right hamstring), Dexter Fowler (right shoulder) and now Martinez. Fowler remains on the active roster and his availability remains day-to-day, while both Piscotty and Martinez have been placed on the 10-day disabled list.
Martinez, 28, was batting .313 with a homer and 4 RBI in 20 games, ranking among National League rookie leaders in batting.