Cardinals Place Young Fireballer On Injured List, Call Up Struggling Rookie

The St. Louis Cardinals are limping to the finish line as injuries continue to mount for the club with 32 games remaining on the disappointing 2023 season.

The one advantage St. Louis has at the moment is the ability to get younger guys reps at the big-league level. Now, one inexperienced right-hander will have to sit out for a while. 

"Right-handed pitcher James Naile has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis, the club announced. "Right-handed pitcher Guillermo Zuñiga (right forearm strain) has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 25."

Zuñiga has all the physical tools to be a high-leverage reliever -- and has shown flashes but his season has been a disaster. 

The 24-year-old started his 2023 campaign pitching for Columbia in the World Baseball Classic -- where he struck out Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout, then struck out Paul Goldschmidt and ended his outing getting Nolan Arenado to produce a weak ground out to first base. 

Since then, it's been downhill. Zuñiga has a 7.63 ERA with a 37-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .262 batting average against and 1.70 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings for Triple-A Memphis. He's allowed one run in two innings for the Cardinals thus far.

With Zuñiga unable to continue his development, Naile will provide some bullpen depth. The 30-year-old rookie was 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA, 54-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .244 batting average against and 1.19 WHIP in 48 2/3 innings for Triple-A Memphis. He has a 7.83 ERA in 23 innings for St. Louis dating back to last season.