Top pitching prospect Reyes not likely to join Cardinals in September
Don’t expect top pitching prospect Alex Reyes to be among the St. Louis Cardinals to receive a September promotion.
Reyes, a right-hander who turns 21 on Aug. 29, is 3-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 19 games with high-Class A Palm Beach and Class AA Springfield. He has 129 strikeouts in 86 innings.
Reyes allowed one hit and struck out 10 in six shutout innings for Springfield on Sunday at Frisco. He was coming off his worst start of the season Aug. 9 against Arkansas, when he surrendered four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
“I’ve had a couple of people ask me that,” Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said, referring to whether Reyes would be summoned to the big leagues in September when rosters can expand to as many as 40 players.
“I don’t think I need to have a look at him,” Mozeliak said. “I know what he’s capable of doing. I think right now, at his age and what he’s been through, it’s probably best for him, at some point, to take a small break. And then ultimately, we’ll see if he pitches fall ball or somewhere else.”
The Cardinals’ 40-man roster is at its maximum, so the Cardinals would have to make a move to add Reyes.
Reyes still has not allowed a home run in 86 innings this season and is limiting hitters to a .199 average. He was raised in New Jersey but signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012.
Mozeliak said the reports on Reyes “are probably better than the box scores.”
“Just very positive,” he said. “As far as prospects go, he’s a special one.”
September recalls
Mozeliak doesn’t envision an abundance of September callups, but he does believe it’s possible the Cardinals will have injured players like Matt Adams, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Randal Grichuk and Matt Belisle back on the active roster by the middle of September.
“Historically, I’ve been right around 32 to 33, 34 (players),” Mozeliak said. “I haven’t just brought people up to bring people up. With all those guys coming back from injuries, I think it will be right at the same.”
Relievers Mitch Harris, Miguel Socolovich, Sam Tuivailala and are almost certain to be recalled. Outfielder Tommy Pham and infielder Greg Garcia and pitcher Tyler Lyons could stick, too. Pham and Lyons already are in St. Louis.
First baseman Adams (strained right quad) is running again and will report to Jupiter, Fla., on Friday.
“Ultimately, as that progresses, we’ll think about a rehab assignment,” Mozeliak said.
Left fielder Holliday, out for the second time this season with a strained right calf, isn’t on the same path. Center fielder Jay (stress reaction in left wrist) also is close to a rehab assignment.
“I believe he’s getting closer to getting more baseball activity, so it’s something we need to think about and decide what his next step looks like,” Mozeliak said.
Where’s Walden?
Mozeliak isn’t as optimistic about reliever Jordan Walden rejoining the active roster as he was three weeks ago. Walden has been out since April 30 with biceps inflammation.
“I still hold hope for that, but I suppose that’s diminishing a little bit,” Mozeliak said.
Surgery for Walden has been discussed, but a procedure isn’t imminent.
“Not to the sense of where I feel he’s looking to do that,” Mozeliak said. “Is it an option? Sure. But I think he would rather try to continue to rehab.”
Contact reporter David Wilhelm at dwilhelm@bnd.com or 618-239-2665. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidMWilhelm.
This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 3:51 PM with the headline "Top pitching prospect Reyes not likely to join Cardinals in September."