The Cardinals announced this afternoon that they’ve placed third baseman Jhonny Peralta back on the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his left thumb. In corresponding moves, the team has recalled outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker. Additionally, right-hander Miguel Socolovich has been recalled from Triple-A, and catcher Michael McKenry has been designated for assignment.
[Related: Updated St. Louis Cardinals Depth Chart]
Word of Peralta’s injury is obviously a concern for the Cards, as surgery to repair a ligament in Peralta’s left thumb cost him the first two-plus months of the 2016 season. In his absence, Aledmys Diaz solidified himself as the everyday shortstop in St. Louis, prompting Peralta to shift to the hot corner and Matt Carpenter to displace the struggling Kolten Wong from the everyday role at second base. While Peralta initially hit well upon activation from the DL, he’s struggled considerably in his past 22 games, hitting just .185/.212/.383. While that’s a highly arbitrary endpoint, he’s hardly the first player to struggle in a return from hand surgery. The Cardinals’ press release did not give an indication as to when Peralta might be able to return to the lineup.
McKenry appeared in just three games with the Cards, collecting two plate appearances (one strikeout, one sacrifice bunt). He’s a veteran of six prior Major League seasons and has compiled a career .238/.318/.406 batting line with 29 homers in 953 plate appearances between the Rockies, Pirates and his ever-so-brief stay with the Cards. He becomes the second veteran backstop to find himself displaced from St. Louis this year, as the Cards also had to designate Eric Fryer for assignment recently in order to pave way for the return of fellow backstop Brayan Pena.
Hazelbaker, of course, began the season as one of the hottest hitters in baseball and drew quite a bit of fanfare from the media for his Herculean April (.317/.357/.683). However, as is often the case with early-season success stories, regression set in, and Hazelbaker ultimately was optioned to Triple-A after slashing .180/.206/.279 from May 1 through June 15. Socolovich, 29, returns to St. Louis for a second stint after spending much of the 2015 campaign in their bullpen and working to a pristine 1.82 ERA with a 27-to-10 K/BB ratio in 29 2/3 innings of work.
Glad to have Socolovich back, he was solid last season. Better than Maness or even Blowsenthal right now. Hazelbaker unfortunately is not a major leaguer, but at least we will always have April….
I predict Hazelbaker has a monstrous rest of season if he ever gets an AB from Matheny. Rosenthal has been a freak occurrence this year. Great fastball still just a lack of confidence (which ironically cardinal fans have no patience for shady results from closers-me included) remember Izzy being booed at Busch? Cardinal fans can’t boo their own family. I would think the bullpen would get a lift more from Reyes than Socolovich which I agree is still an upgrade this year from Maness. Maybe not time to bring him up? Maybe since Garcia will likely not be on roster next year they are grooming Reyes to be a starter for next year?
I see the Cardinals picking up Garcia’s option.
I agree!!! With Mo as the Cards GM, there will be no beneficial trades made for the remainder of this season. He sold this years team out from the beginning by dealing Jon Jay, Tony Cruz, and other contributors of championship seasons. Plus, he won’t complete the deals for top rate Free Agents, and is mystified by low hanging fruit!!!!! He’s absolutely going to blow off this season. Can’t see him doing much better for next season.
You’re nuts. Is this sarcasm? Low hanging fruit again? You just sound like a kool aid drinker. Cruz was a poor backup catcher, and there was no room for Jay. You probably think he shouldn’t have traded Freese either.
I think we will see Reyes up still this year. just wish he walked fewer people. he would definitely be a kick ass upgrade if used correctly, but with concussion syndrome Matheny lack of skills, prob no chance.
Garcia is a total headcase who melts down in any situation resembling a big game…..game 2 against the cubs, that fool really killed us last year pitching with the flu, and we all know the rest of that story. but you are right, we will prob have him back for another year. he dominates the division doormats at least. Mozeliak needs to grow some balls and make a deal with some team other than Cleveland at the deadline! although the Moss trade last year looks better now than it did…..
Are there any external upgrades at 3B that are free agents at years end?
I think a healthy Peralta is a decent upgrade especially with his back ended team friendly contract. Garcia only gets picked up if the cardinals want to pay 11 mil for a sixth starter. Which is a big reason we haven’t seen Reyes already- control being the other. I wasn’t sold on Moss for what we gave up to get him but he is turning out to be someone that I would like to see in a cards uniform for the next several years. Mozeliak has done decent work over the last 5 years with one exception…. Hold your breath cardinal nation…. Catcher. Pena- not a good move so far. Fryer- not a good move (both Matheny not playing an Mo designating him and then he beats us with a hit against the Pirates. Molina is a God in the lou but he’s really struggled offensively. Yes he is the smartest catcher probably ever but his body is not what it used to be. Fryer only hit like Ted Williams when he played for us yet he couldn’t get at bats? He also had a cannon for an arm. I guess mo didn’t want egg on his face from the Pena mistake? Oh wait, Pena is going to serve in the armed forces. That should count for something…. Right?