Bad News for St. Louis Cardinals, Everson Pereira

The St. Louis Cardinals made a good move by taking a chance on former elite prospect Everson Pereira.

St. Louis claimed Pereira off waivers from the Chicago White Sox in early August. Pereira is just 25 years old and was the No. 42 overall prospect in baseball back in 2024, per Baseball America. While he hasn't been able to break out in the majors yet, taking a chance on him was a good move for the Cardinals. But St. Louis fans won't see him for a bit, unfortunately.

Pereira was hit in the left hand by a pitch Friday night and now is up in the air. On Saturday, the young outfielder swung in the cage to test his hand, but Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that it "did not go well."

"He attempted to take swings in the batting cage hours before the game," Goold wrote. "A Cardinals official said that 'did not go well,' and the team had to determine whether an IL stint was likely to add an active player to the bench."

The Cardinals Will Miss Everson Pereira

Aug 18, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Everson Pereira (21) catches a fly out hit by Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday (not pictured) in the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On Sunday, the Cardinals announced that Pereira is heading to the Injured List and Ramón Urías is being activated in his place.

"INF Ramón Urías has been activated from the 60-day IL," the Cardinals announced. "OF Everson Pereira has been placed on the 10-day IL (left hand contusion), retroactive to August 22."

INF Ramón Urías has been activated from the 60-day IL.

OF Everson Pereira has been placed on the 10-day IL (left hand contusion), retroactive to August 22. pic.twitter.com/0QvH0jRP8k
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 23, 2026

A tough update, to say the least. Pereira has been really good since the Cardinals brought him in. The 25-year-old has played in 11 games and is slashing .278/.409/.444 with an .854 OPS, one home run, one RBI, and two runs scored. Plus, he has been elite defensively.

Everson Pereira hangs on for an unreal catch right at the wall! pic.twitter.com/ieRiZtpqRb
— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2026

Urías hasn't played in a game for the Cardinals since May 3. The former Gold Glove Award winner was slashing .158/.279/.316 with a .595 OPS, two home runs and five RBIs in 25 games, at the time.

He came to town ahead of the 2026 season to give the Cardinals veteran depth in the infield. Before he got hurt, he saw time at first base, shortstop and third base. For the foreseeable future, it wouldn't be shocking to see him get some time at the hot corner.

With Pereira now on the Injured List, the Cardinals are thinner in the outfield. Joshua Báez, Nathan Church and Jordan Walker are set as the starters, but there is less depth. Because of this, St. Louis should take a close look at Victor Scott II.

Scott was demoted down to Triple-A earlier in the season after slashing .194/.276/.258 through 61 games played. The positive thing for Scott was the fact that he was playing elite defense and was in the 85th percentile in outs above average.

He has been down in Triple-A for a while and his bat is cooking right now. Since July 26, Scott is slashing .333/.422/.526 with a .948 OPS, two home runs, eight RBIs, 10 stolen bases, five doubles and two triples in 21 games.

Hopefully, we see Pereira back on the field soon.

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