St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. Carlson has been recovering from a right shoulder sprain after colliding with fellow outfielder Jordan Walker in the outfield in spring training. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Carlson will DH on Tuesday in his first game action since the collision.
Dylan Carlson Starting Rehab Assignment
The switch-hitting Carlson was having a promising run in the Spring before the collision. He was batting .271 across 48 at-bats and slugging .521. The 25-year-old had three home runs and 15 RBI in 18 spring training games. His injury was a blow to team morale at the time.
“It’s uber frustrating for him and the club,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said after the injury. “You think about the offseason he had, what he was tasked to do and he showed up to camp and had really righted the ship and had really positioned himself well for this upcoming season. So this is certainly disappointing, but you have to remind yourself it’s a long season.”
Carlson was expected to be the club’s Opening-Day Center Fielder before his spring training injury. The Cardinals have had seemingly nothing go to plan in the outfield because of injuries with Lars Nootbaar starting the season on the IL as well as Tommy Edman. While Nootbaar has since returned to the lineup, Edman still appears a few weeks out from a rehab assignment as his surgically repaired wrist continues to heal.
Much Needed Reinforcement for the Cardinals
With three outfielders starting the season on the IL, Rookie Victor Scott won a starting position out of Spring Training. He averaged just a .085 batting average across 59 at-bats before being sent down to Memphis as well on April 21st. Former Cardinals top-prospect Walker was also optioned to Memphis after a rough start to his season.
This has left utility man Brendan Donovan to suck up everyday outfield duties. Lately, 24-year-old Michael Siani has been picking up starts in Center Field and while his defense and baserunning are pluses for the team, his bat hasn’t added much value to the lineup. When the team announced Walker was going down, Marmol hinted Alec Burleson would be getting more starts. The left-handed specialist has been pretty good at the plate this season with a .263 batting average and a .323 on-base percentage.
Other Injury Updates
Edman has begun taking swings from both sides of a tee according to Marmol on April 29. He got the thumbs up to swing from the left side because of wrist swelling and soreness.
“This time around,” Marmol said April 29, “he’s been good and recovering really well.”
Cardinals re-signed Matt Carpenter this offseason and the first baseman/designated hitter has yet to play due to an oblique injury. Marmol said he felt good after taking batting practice on April 29. The club is going to start figuring out when to plan on taking a rehab assignment as well.
The potential return of the trio of Cardinals bats could help right the offense which has struggled to start the season.
Main Photo: © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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