Keynan Middleton to have season-ending surgery; Cardinals turn to Memphis for relief (2024)

HOUSTON— On the verge of joining the bullpen that he was supposed to have reinvigorate from the right side, Keynan Middleton had a setback that will now end his season.

The Cardinals' reliever will have season-ending surgery next week to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm, manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Tuesday afternoon. The decision to have surgery to repair the injury was reached after Middleton met with a specialist Monday in New York to review with him and Cardinals' medical officials his options after persisting soreness in his right forearm.

The timing of the surgery will allow Middleton to return for more of 2025, depending on his recovery and rehab goes.

Middleton first felt discomfort in his right forearm during spring training, and he opened the year on the injured list. The right-hander, who signed with the Cardinals early in spring training, began a rehab assignment in the minors. The last thing the Cardinals wanted him to do was pitch on back-to-back days to see how he recovered.

It did not go well.

The right-hander felt renewed pain and inflammation in the right arm, and he immediately received treatment to encourage healing in the muscles in the forearm and around the elbow, according to Cardinals officials. Once the inflammation subsided, Middleton had a round of scans taken of the joint and that revealed the damage that surgery will repair.

The announcement of Middleton's extended absence comes just as the Cardinals promoted another right-hander to the bullpen as an option to contend against the Astros' lineup stacked with right-handed batters.

From earlier ...

Cardinals promote Roycroft, option Loutos

While awaiting the expected return of relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos from injury in the coming week or so, the Cardinals used roster churn to refresh the right side of their bullpen as they reach the final days of a lengthy road trip.

The Cardinals bought back right-hander Chris Roycroft on Tuesday afternoon from Class AAA Memphis, where he had closed recent games.

Roycroft, 26, spent a couple of weeks with the Cardinals this past month and pitched six innings over five games.

Upon his return to the minors, the 6-foot-8 former basketball player resumed his late-inning role for the Triple-A Redbirds. He did not allow a run in any of the three appearances since returning to Memphis, and in his most recent two appearances, he pitched three scoreless innings, struck out three and secured two saves. In his first appearance after the demotion to Memphis, the power right-hander struck out four in two innings.

The Cardinals got in a bind during the late innings Monday and relied on lefty JoJo Romero to pitch through the eighth inning with a one-run lead. The Astros' run of right-handed batters flipped the game with two home runs off the lefty to take their first lead of the night in the eighth inning and secure the win.

The Cardinals have two games remaining in Houston before returning home for a four-game series against Colorado. That visit from the Rockies concludes a stretch of 10 games in 10 days for the club.