Injuries & Moves: Middleton begins rehab assignment
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May 14: RHP Keynan Middleton begins rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield
Middleton, a Cardinals free-agent signee in the offseason, wrapped up his final bullpen session at Busch Stadium last Friday, and he started a Minor League rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Tuesday. He only threw six pitches, however, due to a rain delay that started when he faced his second batter. Middleton strained the flexor tendon in his right forearm early in Spring Training and hasn’t pitched since March 7.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm flexor strain)
Expected return: Late May
Middleton started a Minor League rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Tuesday but only threw six pitches due to a rain delay that started when he faced his second batter. Middleton strained the flexor tendon in his right forearm early in Spring Training and hasn’t pitched since March 7. He pitched well out of the bullpen for the White Sox and Yankees last season and signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals that has a club option for a second year. (Last updated: May 14)
LHP Steven Matz (lower back strain)
Expected return: Early June
Out since May 3 with a lower back strain, Matz felt lingering pain after a mound session at Busch Stadium on May 10 and was shut down so that he could receive a second pain-killing injection, manager Oliver Marmol said. Matz received his injection on May 13 and will be “no-throw” for another week, Marmol said, meaning the left-hander's return to the rotation will most likely be pushed back to June at the earliest.
Matz last pitched on April 30 while battling back stiffness and pain, and surrendered four earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. (Last updated: May 13)
C Willson Contreras (left forearm fracture)
Expected return: Mid-July
Contreras underwent successful surgery on his fractured left forearm on Thursday in St. Louis, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. Unlike the original six-to-eight-week projection that Contreras hoped for in his return to action, projections within the Cardinals have the catcher able to play again in approximately 10 weeks if all goes well with his recovery and rehabilitation.
“Everything went well, and he came out of it good,” Marmol said. “He’s started the recovery process. I talked to him right before [the surgery] and he was in the right mindset. He did more of the grieving the day before and he was in a mindset of, ‘it is what it is,’ and I’m going to get this done, be there to support the team and then work like hell to get back.”
The extent of the damage in Contreras’ arm is still unknown after he was hit by the bat of Mets slugger JD Martinez on Tuesday night. Contreras, who signed a five-year, $87.5 million free-agent deal with the Cardinals before the 2023 season, has been the most consistent hitter in an offense that has struggled all season. He’s hit .280 with a team-high six home runs, 11 doubles and 12 RBIs. (Last updated: May 9)
RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: Late May at the earliest
Gallegos, who has been losing velocity since 2022 and has been hit hard this season, was placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder impingement on May 6. Coming into this season, Gallegos had been one of baseball’s most durable pitchers, leading the National League in appearances (268) and innings pitched as a reliever (283 1/3) since 2019. But this season, he’s allowed 12 earned runs in nine innings pitched. He has not retired a batter in either of his last two outings, and the average velocity on his fastball has dropped from 94.3 mph to 92.1 mph from 2022 to 2024. The hard-hit percentage on that pitch has climbed from 46.5 percent to 81.8 percent. (Last updated: May 6)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
CF Tommy Edman (right wrist surgery)
Expected return: Late May
The switch-hitting Edman, who has yet to fully go through baseball activities after undergoing wrist surgery in October, has progressed to short-hand flips, according to Marmol. Because of previous pain and swelling, Edman had been limited to swinging from the left side. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 6.
Edman, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension in January to avoid salary arbitration proceedings, was shut down four times in Spring Training because of lingering pain and swelling in his wrist. Edman said he got second and third opinions from independent doctors during Spring Training, and he was assured that the wrist is structurally sound.
"This time around," manager Oliver Marmol said April 29, "he's been good and recovering really well." (Last updated: May 13)
RHP Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon strain)
Expected return: May
O’Brien, who was one of the Cardinals’ top pitchers all throughout Spring Training, was moved to the 60-day injured list on May 10 to make room on the 40-man roster for Kolton Ingram, who had been designated for assignment by the Rangers. O’Brien struck out Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani on Opening Day in an inning in which he allowed one run, but he felt tightness in his forearm the next day. He recently started playing long toss to build back arm strength after being shut down for several weeks. O’Brien will most likely throw off a mound for the first time since late March next week. (Last updated: May 10)
LHP Drew Rom (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: September
Rom, who was acquired last July in a trade with the Orioles, recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder that might allow him to return later this season, manager Oliver Marmol said. Marmol dubbed the procedure as “a best-case scenario,” and is hopeful Rom can return in the fall.
Rom, 24, made three starts in Spring Training before being put on the injured list with shoulder trouble. He was later moved to the 60-day IL.
After being acquired in the trade centered around Jack Flaherty, Rom made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Cardinals. In eight starts, Rom was 1-4 with an 8.06 ERA. His first MLB win was over the Orioles in Baltimore. (Last updated: May 9)