Cardinals reliever Jordan Walden experienced shoulder soreness while pitching in a Spring Training game today and will not be ready for the start of the season, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes. Walden will visit a doctor instead of going north with the team. Walden missed most of 2015 due to a rotator cuff injury, but was reportedly healthy coming into camp.
When healthy, Walden can be a difference-maker out of the bullpen — in 2014, before heading to St. Louis in the Jason Heyward / Shelby Miller trade, he posted a 2.88 ERA, 11.2 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9 in 50 innings with the Braves. He was only able to pitch 10 1/3 innings in his first season with the Cardinals, however, not appearing in a game again after April 29.
With Walden out, the Cardinals will have an additional spot open in their bullpen. Goold names Matt Bowman (a Rule 5 pick from the Mets organization who worked as a starter in Triple-A last year) and Juan Gonzalez as pitchers who now might be on the roster bubble.
Even if the Cards only go with only 12 pitchers, my guess is Bowman makes the squad. Look for Hazelbaker to be among the 25. If they choose 13 pitchers, Socolovich is the most likely, but they sent him down yesterday, and I don’t know how recalls from AAA before the season starts works.
Oh really? The guy who jumps off the rubber keeps getting hurt? Well I never!!! It’s not like pitching is an unnatural thing that needs to be done in a concise manner or anything!
jk i love seeing cheaters like Walden and Capps hurt – pitch like you’re supposed to or gtfo
MLB has examined their deliveries and concluded that they are legal. And your a disgrace. Maybe root for them to fail, not get injuries. Never root for injuries.
If it’s not against the rules, how is it cheating? That confuses me. Stop trolling guys just because they are unique. Should all guys who throw knuckle balls be banned since others don’t pitch the same way? Of course not. Jesus your comments are very condescending
This could arguably be the most ignorant and rude post I’ve seen in a very long time, and I read YouTube comments.
I don’t want it too sound like I’m happy Walden got hurt….but this isn’t the worst thing for the Cardinals. They can now keep Bowman, who they appear to really like. If this injury happens in a week, it’s already too late and Bowman is pitching with another team.
oh really?? Walden is a stud.. this hurts big time!!! who the hell is Bowman?? hes been awful!!
Gotta agree with Johnny on this one. When you hear the team say they like a guy it’s all relative. Walden is one of the best relievers on the roster and Bowman is a guy someone else couldn’t find a spot for. Plus I’m fairly certain if he’s not on our roster all year he’s right back on waivers. So if Walden comes back a month end Bowman would be gone assuming he wouldn’t have had a spot without Waldens injury
This one hurts. Bowman isn’t a good enough starter to crack the starting 5, and as a reliever he’s been terrible this spring. While he might latch on as a long swingman, that role has already been taken by Lyons. To me, I’d rather see Bowman leave and either Tuivailala or Socolovich take that spot. But the Cards seem really, really high on Bowman. The goal for Bowman, I’ve read, is to have him pitch out of the pen this year and take over the No. 5 rotation spot in 2017.