Steven Hill Promoted to St. Louis
It was announced late last night that Springfield All-Star Catcher Steven Hill was promoted from Double-A while pitcher Jeff Suppan was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a groin injury. This is the first time in franchise history that a Springfield Cardinals player has moved directly from Double-A to St. Louis.
Hill, 25, is a 2009 and 2010 Texas League All-Star with a reputation as a power hitter with improving sills behind the plate. He first joined Springfield with about a month to go in the 2008 season and has remained there ever since. In addition to catching, Hill has experience at first base and in the outfield.
Hill has enjoyed a career year to this point slugging a career best 22 home runs (T-1st in the League) and has driven in a career best 86 runs (Tops in the TL) to go along with a .280 batting average over 93 games. The right-handed hitter leads the Texas League in RBI by ten over the next closest competitor and is tied with Roger Clemens' son Koby, who plays for Corpus Christi, for the most home runs in the circuit. Hill is also second in the league in slugging. He has been assigned uniform number 60 with St. Louis.
Though both catchers with the Memphis Redbirds, Bryan Anderson and Matt Pagnozzi, are already on the 40-man roster, the club had a late-evening game Tuesday night in Reno, Nevada. The logistical challenge in getting a player to Cincinnati in time for the Wednesday afternoon game seemed to have played into the decision to add Hill. With the promotion of Hill and the recent hamstring injury to Tony Cruz suffered on Sunday night in Tulsa, Springfield received catchers Charlie Cutler and Nick Derba from Palm Beach to replace Cruz and Hill on the active roster.
Suppan was scheduled to start the finale of the Florida Marlins series last Sunday in Miami and warmed up. Because the game was called off by rain, he did not actually pitch. On Monday, the 35-year-old apparently suffered the injury while running and was unavailable as a reliever in Cincinnati.
The Suppan move potentially has little impact on the Cardinals time-wise since it could be back-dated to August 1. Suppan last pitched in game action on July 31. The club will also need to decide when to bring Kyle Lohse back, who after a couple of uneven innings, finished strong in his seven-inning rehab stint with Memphis on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals cleared one spot on their 40-man roster when Brad Penny was previously placed on the 60-day disabled list. Hill just took that spot, the final open place currently on the 40-man. When Lohse is ready to come off the 60-day DL, another move will be required. Adam Ottavino or David Freese, both already out for the season, appear to be possibilities
The Springfield Cardinals are back home at Hammons Field for a six-game homestand beginning tonight with the Corpus Christi Hooks at 7:10pm. Springfield will send right hander Trey Hearne to the mound against fellow righty Erik Abreu of the Hooks. Fans will have a chance to meet legendary St. Louis Cardinals Mascot Fredbird at Hammons Field tonight as he will be in the team store to take pictures and sign autographs for his beloved fans. For ticket information please visit the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at www.springfieldcardinals.com or call (417) 863-2143.
Escape to Cardinals Baseball!