By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | July 24, 2016, 10:56 pm CT
By Ron Cogswell / CC Image / No changes made
While manager Mike Matheny relayed good updates on Sunday regarding three key hitters hopefully returning from the DL in the near future, the news isn’t quite as positive for another trio of players in the Cardinals organization.
In the minor leagues, left-hander Tim Cooney was recently diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his left shoulder and is expected to undergo season-ending surgery in the near future, ending his season, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reports.
Cooney, who had not pitched at all this season due to shoulder discomfort, is expected to be fully healthy in time Spring Training next Spring.
The 25-year-old last pitched for the big-league club in June of 2015. In six major-league appearances last year, Cooney pitched to a 3.16 ERA over 31.1 innings of work.
[More from STLBT: Carpenter nearing rehab assignment, could be activated by August 2]
CARDS PATIENT WITH PENA AND WALDEN
Meanwhile, the club is continuing a patient approach with both catcher Brayan Pena and reliever Jordan Walden, Langosch reports. After aggravating a left knee injury earlier this month just days after being activated from the disabled list, Pena is continuing to slowly rehab at the organization’s facilities in Florida. There is no timetable for his return.
Walden, who has been sidelined since the spring with a right shoulder sprain, recently told the Cardinals he didn’t believe a previously discussed follow-up visit with the team’s medical staff was necessary because he didn’t believe he had made enough progress in his rehab. The 28-year-old has pitched in just 10 1/3 innings for the redbirds since being acquired from the Braves in the Jason Heyward trade.
