St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson is set to kick off his rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. Carlson has been recovering from a right shoulder sprain sustained during a collision with fellow outfielder Jordan Walker in spring training. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted that Carlson will serve as a designated hitter in his first game action since the incident.
Carlson, a switch-hitter, was showcasing promising form in the spring prior to the collision. He boasted a .271 batting average over 48 at-bats with a slugging percentage of .521. Despite his injury setback, the 25-year-old managed to tally three home runs and 15 RBI across 18 spring training games, delivering a blow to team morale at the time.
Initially slated to be the club’s Opening-Day Center Fielder, Carlson’s absence compounded the Cardinals’ outfield woes, with injuries affecting Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman as well. While Nootbaar has returned to the lineup, Edman remains a few weeks away from a rehab assignment as he continues to recover from wrist surgery.
With three outfielders sidelined at the start of the season, rookie Victor Scott secured a starting role out of Spring Training but struggled at the plate before being sent down to Memphis on April 21st. Former top-prospect Jordan Walker was also optioned to Memphis following a challenging start to his season.
As a result, utility player Brendan Donovan has assumed regular outfield duties, while Michael Siani, 24, has recently received starts in Center Field. While Siani’s defensive prowess and baserunning skills are assets, his offensive contributions have been limited. Marmol hinted at increased starts for left-handed specialist Alec Burleson, who has impressed with a .263 batting average and a .323 on-base percentage this season.
