ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - After missing eight games due to testing positive for COVID-19, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has been re-activated to the roster. He's the first Cardinals player to return after testing positive.
Molina will start behind the plate and bat eighth in tonight's Cardinals lineup.
The team also announced catcher Matt Wieters has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left toe contusion, pitcher Nabil Crismatt has been sent to the team's Alternate Site in Springfield and they recalled pitcher Jake Woodford from the Alternate Site.
Shildt: "Yadi's here to play" .... says Yadi told him earlier today that he can start every game the rest of the season. #STLCards
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August 20, 2020 #STLCards are back home starting a 4 game series vs #Reds. Pregame with @chrabe starts at 6:20p. Lineup:WongEdman SSGoldschmidtCarpenter DHMiller 3BO'Neill LFFowlerMolinaCarlson CF(Wainwright)
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August 20, 2020 In a video conference on Thursday, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak stated that shortstop Paul DeJong, who also tested positive for COVID-19, will rejoin the team on Monday, but for now is headed to Springfield.
The Cardinals host the Reds on Thursday with a 7:15 first pitch. You can hear it on KMOX.
Previous reporting:
The face of the franchise, the fan-favorite and the captain of the St. Louis Cardinals, catcher Yadier Molina, could be back in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup very soon as he's been cleared to return to baseball activities after testing positive for COVID-19.
Manager Mike Shildt was asked about a possible timeline on Molina's return before Wednesday's doubleheader in Chicago.
"Yadi would like to play today. Yadi is ready to go so that's probably going to happen sooner rather than later," Shildt says.
The Cardinals have a 7:15 p.m. game on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds and that would be the very soonest that Molina could return to the lineup. It will be the first home game for St. Louis since July 26.
Molina and five of his teammates who recently tested positive have been cleared. Infielders Paul DeJong, Edmundo Sosa, and Rangel Ravelo, and pitchers Carlos Martinez and Kodi Whitley were also cleared.
Shildt said the group of position players worked out on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
During the broadcast on KMOX of Wednesday's games against the Cubs, commentator and former Cards pitcher Rick Horton said Molina was catching the Cardinals top pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore, with DeJong at the dish in a workout at Busch Stadium. Horton and his partner John Rooney are calling Cardinals road games from the broadcast booth in St. Louis, using a number of TV screens with live feeds from Wrigley Field in Chicago to keep up with the action.
Matt Carpenter hit a grandslam in the top of the 1st increasing his career batting average with the bases loaded to .500 (28 for 56).You can listen to the #STLCards game for free on the https://t.co/BYBGA8s7Gh app: https://t.co/vlMqz15yme
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August 19, 2020 In the first six games since St. Louis returned to action, Cardinals catchers have two hits in 20 at-bats – both hits belong to Andrew Knizner.
Shildt also said he's excited to get back home, as the Cardinals will begin an 11-day homestand on Thursday. They'll play 12 games against the Reds, Royals, Pirates and Indians.
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