The St. Louis Cardinals suffered another potentially devastating loss on Monday night, as outfielderJason Heywardleft the game in the third inning with what was later reported to be left hamstring tightness. Heyward, who had started 105 of the Cardinals’ first 117 games in right field, was starting in center field on Monday for the first time since 2013 as regular center fielderRandal Grichukwent on the disabled list with elbow tightness. After a very slow start to the season, Heyward has been one of the team’s best offensive contributors since mid-May. He was hitting .288 with a .782 OPS, 11 homers, 43 RBI, and a team-high 18 stolen bases coming into Monday’s game.
With opening day center fielderJon Jayand left fielderMatt Hollidayon the DL along with Grichuk, who has been a regular starter since early June, the Cardinals’ outfield has already been run extremely thin, and Heyward’s potential loss would be another very unfortunate development.Tommy Pham, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, replaced him in center following the injury, and it would seem that he would be the primary center fielder going forward if Heyward had to miss time.
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The decision to put Pham, rather than veteranPeter Bourjos, in center field paints a very clear picture of exactly how far Bourjos has fallen this season. After struggling for much of 2014 as he played through a hip injury, Bourjos seemed to be on track to claim his former starting spot in center in May, as he started 18 of the club’s 29 games during the month while hitting .257/.317/.392. Since then, however, Bourjos has started just 19 of 67 games and has been passed up for playing time by rookies such as Grichuk, Pham, andStephen Piscotty.
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It’s not a given that Heyward will need to go on the disabled list, but if he does, there’s not an obvious replacement for him on the 25-man roster. First baseman/outfielderXavier Scruggs, who hit .262/.279/.310 in 42 big-league at-bats earlier this season, could be an option, since he would give the team the flexibility to either play him at an outfield corner or to move their primary first basemen,Brandon MossandMark Reynolds, there. Others who have seen time on the big-league bench this year who are currently at Memphis include catchersEd EasleyandCody Stanley, first basemanDan Johnson, and utility infieldersGreg GarciaandDean Anna. While none of those players would provide depth in the outfield, their presence could allow guys likeMatt CarpenterorYadier Molinato shift to first in a pinch and give Reynolds or Moss the opportunity to play at an outfield corner.
Another player who may be deserving of a call-up is 28-year-old career minor-leaguerJeremy Hazelbaker, who was signed by the Cardinals earlier this season after being released out of the Los Angeles Dodgers system. The lefty hitter, who has played all three outfield positions, is hitting a combined .308/.388/.533 with 11 homers and 56 RBI at three minor-league stops this year. Over 39 games for Memphis, he’s hitting .333/.411/.630 with eight homers and 34 RBI. He would, however, have to be added to the 40-man roster before he could join the major-league club.
Next: Cardinals Place Randal Grichuk on Disabled List
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