By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | July 29, 2016, 11:25 am CT
Brandon Moss speaks with reporters prior to beginning his rehab assignment on Thursday. (Springfield Cardinals / Twitter)
While the biggest news of the day was a 5-4 victory over the Marlins, the Cardinals on Thursday announced a number of (mostly) positive updates on injured redbirds, some of whom could be activated in the near future.
Brandon Moss began a rehab assignment Thursday night at AA Springfield, batting third and playing first base for five innings. The 32-year-old slugger, who has been sidelined since early July with a sprained left ankle, said prior to his first rehab start that he’ll be eased into playing a full nine innings in the field over the weekend. Assuming he suffers no setbacks, Moss is could join the Cardinals as early as their (Tuesday-Thursday) series in Cincinnati next week, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Matt Carpenter, working his way back from a right oblique strain, is continuing to rehab in St. Louis for now, but is likely to go out on a rehab assignment of his own some time this weekend, according to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch.
Jhonny Peralta is expected to join the redbirds in Miami as early as Friday to begin baseball activities, Goold reports. The 34-year-old infielder, out since July 19 with a ligament strain in his surgically-repaired left thumb, would prefer not to go on a rehab assignment, according to Goold. Peralta is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday, although it’s currently unclear whether he might be ready by then.
Lance Lynn throws a bullpen session at Marlins Park on Thursday. (St. Louis Cardinals / Twitter)
Lance Lynn, almost nine months into his recovery from Tommy John surgery, got to show the big-league staff how far he’s come in his recovery on Thursday, throwing a bullpen session at Marlins Park prior to the club’s series opener there. Per Langosch, the 29-year-old has been throwing off the mound for weeks at the organization’s Florida facilities, and will continue to throw live batting-practice sessions there through the end of August. Depending on his progress, Lynn could even pitch in the minor leagues on a rehab assignment before the Minor League season comes to a close, Langosch reports.
Brayan Pena, signed this past offseason to be Yadier Molina’s backup, has been rehabbing his troublesome left knee in Jupiter, Florida, catching some of Lynn’s bullpens and hitting in the cages, Goold reports. Pena, who lost roughly 15 pounds during his second stint on the DL this season, took batting practice with the big league club on Thursday, although he’s doesn’t know when he’ll be ready to begin a rehab assignment.
Trevor Rosenthal was back in St. Louis on Thursday awaiting a second opinion on his right shoulder, general manager John Mozeliak told Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest. The former Cardinals closer was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday amid significant struggles this season. There’s currently no timetable for his return.
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