Key Takeaways:
* Keynan Middleton, acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals during the offseason, is about to make his debut after nursing a right flexor tendon strain.
* Middleton was seen throwing off a mound for the first time since the beginning of March, indicating a return to action soon.
* The rehabilitation of the right-hander pitcher is on course, with Minor League games expected to begin later this month.
* Despite the setback, the Cardinals management remains optimistic about Middleton’s performance, given his solid record from last season.
Set for Cardinals Debut
St. Louis Cardinals’ offseason acquisition Keynan Middleton has been kept off the field since early March due to a right flexor tendon strain, much to the team’s disappointment. However, a promising breakthrough occurred on Friday when the pitcher threw off a mound, signalling his potential debut in the Cardinals’ lineup soon, according to a report from John Denton of MLB.com.
Denton wrote, “Cardinals reliever Keynan Middleton will throw off a mound today for the first time since he was shut down on March 3. He will need a few of these sessions before beginning a Minor League rehab assignment later this month.”
Manager Oliver Marmol, at the onset of Middleton’s injury, expressed that the club was treating the injury with caution. The pain persisted despite attempts to manage it, leading to the decision to keep Middleton off the field for several weeks.
Middleton’s Role in the ‘Birds’ Lineup
Middleton was integrated into the team after signing a one-year, $6 million contract. The 30-year-old right-hander had an impressive 2023 season with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 50.2 innings, split between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.
His acquisition was part of the Cardinals’ determined efforts to bolster their pitching lineup which was blamed for their underwhelming 71-91 record and last place in the National League Central last season. Moreover, their bullpen team yielded an alarming 28 saves in 2023.
John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, when signing Middleton, emphasized the need for “additional proven depth in the bullpen”. He asserted, “Keynan’s experience in getting outs in the back half of games offers us another strong addition to the bullpen mix.”
Balancing Injuries Throughout the Team
Besides Middleton, the Cardinals have been dealing with injuries to veteran starters Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson. These recent additions have been drafted in to support holdovers Miles Mikolas and lefty Steven Matz. However, Gray and Matz have also been facing injury issues early this season.
St. Louis also faces injuries to key position players Tommy Edman, Dylan Carlson, and Lars Nootbaar. Consequently, Marmol is continually adjusting his lineup and rotation to counter the team’s injury woes.
So the return of Middleton is increasingly becoming a crucial part of the Cardinals’ strategy to regain their footing. While optimism prevails within the team, it remains to be seen how Middleton’s return will fortify the Cardinals’ pitching performance this season.
In all, the forthcoming weeks could prove crucial for St. Louis Cardinals as their key players edge towards recovery. Their management would undoubtedly be eyeing a much-needed turnaround in fortunes as the season advances.