Cardinals Reportedly Calling Up Elite Prospect After Club's Historically Bad Start To Season
The St. Louis Cardinals reportedly are making moves.
St. Louis reportedly called up young outfielder Juan Yepez to the big league club from the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on Friday afternoon, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.
"Sounds like the Cardinals are calling up Juan Yepez today ahead of their three-game series against the Tigers," Woo said. "Corresponding move (to be announced).
The 24-year-old signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in 2014 and made his professional debut in the club's organization in 2015 but was traded to the Cardinals in 2017 in a deal for infielder Matt Adams. Yepez began his career in the Cardinals organization with the Class-A Peoria Chiefs. Since 2017, Yepez has shot up the Cardinals' farm system and made his big league debut with the Cardinals in 2022.
Yepez impressed in a small sample size last season slashing .253/.296/.447 in 76 games to go along with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs. The young utility man saw time all over the field and played left field, right field, first base, and third base. Yepez already has appeared in three games so far this season for the Cardinals and has clubbed one home run and slashed .333/.333/.583 in the small sample size.
The move to recall Yepez is somewhat surprising seeing as the club has dealt with a logjam in the outfield all season so far. St. Louis already has sent top prospect Jordan Walker down to the minors for this very reason so he could have everyday at-bats. St. Louis still has Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, and Lars Nootbaar all up with the big league club so there still will be a logjam.
At this point, Yepez's call-up -- if for an extended period of time -- could end up being somewhat of a tryout for other teams in preparation for a potential trade. St. Louis could use more starting pitching, and if Yepez can impress at the big-league level he could be a solid trade piece.
There's no way to know for sure what will happen next, but hopefully, Yepez can take a step forward in his career.
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