By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | March 27, 2016, 7:20 pm CT
By Arturo Pardavila III / CC Image / No changes made
The redbirds could be without their ‘Secret Weapon’ for the entirety of the 2016 campaign.
For the first time in over 15 years, someone other than Jose Oquendo will be in the third base coaching box for the Cardinals on Opening Day, as the club announced on Sunday that the 52-year-old is taking a medical leave of absence after recent knee surgery, an absence they’re prepared to be a season-long one.
Oquendo missed several days earlier this spring when he traveled to St. Louis for his second right knee surgery within a span of a few months, a procedure which left him using crutches or a golf cart to get around camp.
“They’re just concerned that when he gets out there and does what he needs to do for his job that it would certainly lead toward a replacement, which no one likes the idea of right now,” manager Mike Matheny told reporters, including MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. “He just has to take time.”
As Langosch writes, as recently as last week, the third-base coach spoke optimistically about being ready to go for Opening Day.
“Jose was optimistic, and things just weren’t getting better,” Matheny said. “The medical team was getting more concerned about if he pushed it, what the ramifications will be.”
In Oquendo’s absence, first base coach Chris Maloney – who has held the position since 2012 – will shift across the diamond to coach third base, while Bill Mueller, the team’s assistant hitting coach, will handle first base coaching duties. Mueller and bench coach David Bell will take on Oquendo’s responsibilities of infield instruction and in-game defensive shifting.
Additionally, Derrick May, the organization’s minor league hitting coordinator, has been promoted to serve as John Mabry’s assistant hitting coach, while minor league offensive strategist George Greer will now oversee hitting instruction for the minor leagues.
Oquendo has been a part of the Cardinals coaching staff since 1999, including the past 16 seasons as third base and infield coach.
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Feature image: Keith Allison / CC Image / No changes made
