Piscotty to Rehab With Chiefs Thursday - Sunday

PEORIA, IL - St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty is expected to begin a rehab stint in the Midwest League on Thursday as the Peoria Chiefs host Cedar Rapids  in a 6 p.m. double header (Piscotty will play game one). Piscotty is expected to play for the Chiefs in Thursday and Friday's games against the Kernels plus Saturday and Sunday games against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.<o:p>
    Piscotty went on the Cardinals disabled list July 15 with a groin strain. In 69 games for the Cardinals this season he is batting .236 with six homers, 13 doubles, 31 RBI and 13 runs scored. He was on the DL back in May and rehabbed with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals for three games. From May 16-19 he was 1-for-7 with a RBI, a walk and a strikeout.

    A 26-year old native of Pleasanton, CA, Piscotty hit .273 in the Majors last season with 22 homers, 35 doubles, 85 RBI and 86 runs scored in 153 games. He debuted with the Cardinals in 2015 with a .305 average to go along with seven homers, 14 doubles, 39 RBI and 29 runs scored in 63 games. In the 2015 NLCS he hit .375 (6-for-16) with three homers, a double, five runs scored and six RBI over four games.<o:p>
     After being selected with the 36^th overall pick in the 2012 draft out of Stanford University, Piscotty reported to the Midwest League's Quad Cities River Bandits. He hit .295 in 55 games in the second half of the season with four homers, 18 doubles, three steals, 27 RBI and 29 runs scored. He did not play at Dozer Park in 2012 but did collect seven hits, two doubles and three RBI in four games against the Chiefs in Iowa July 31 - August 3.<o:p>
     Piscotty split 2013 between High-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield batting .295 with 15 homers, 59 RBI, 23 doubles and 47 runs scored in 112 games. He played in the 2013 Arizona Fall League and hit .371 over 23 games with seven extra-base hits and 18 RBI. In 2014 he played exclusively in Memphis batting .288 with nine homers, 32 doubles and 69 RBI in 136 games. He started 2015 in Memphis with a .272 average, 11 homers, 28 doubles and 41 RBI in 87 games before his July call-up.<o:p>
     Piscotty will be the Chiefs third MLB rehab of the 2017 season following pitcher Tyler Lyons in May and infielder Kolten Wong in June. Last year Jhonny Peralta played five games on the infield for the Chiefs. Former Cardinals LHP Jaime García threw the first five innings of a no-hitter against Clinton on July 23, 2015 in a rehab start. Jon Jay also rehabbed for the Chiefs in the outfield in 2015 while Jake Westbrook threw seven innings in a win against Quad Cities on June 9, 2013.<o:p>
    Thursday is a Baumgarten Distributing Beer & Brats Thirsty Thursday with $2 12-ounce domestic drafts and sodas, $3 16-ounce craft drafts, $3 margaritas and $3 brats. Thursday is also a Taco Bell Live Mas Thursday where a receipt from a Central Illinois Taco Bell gets a Buy One Get One Free ticket deal (limit 4 free tickets).<o:p>
    The Friday, Saturday and Sunday games all feature post-game fireworks with a 7:00 p.m. start time Friday and 6:30 p.m. first pitches on Saturday and Sunday. The first 1000 fans 13 and over on Friday receive a 35^th Anniversary Chiefs logo banner and Dueling Pianos will perform during the game and Fireworks. The first 1000 fans 13 and over on Saturday get a Bradley University Kaboom bobblehead with appearances by Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash for Super Hero Night. On Sunday the first 1000 kids 12 and under get a Chiefs backpack while the first 1000 fans get a Kramer Robertson poster. Buddy from Dinosaur Train will be on hand and kids 12 and under get a free hot dog, chips and soda with a $5 ticket.<o:p>
    Tickets for this week's games are available at the Dozer Park Box Office or online at www.peoriachiefs.com. Per the Chiefs ticket policy, the Never-A-Wasted Ticket exchange plan is suspended for all MLB Rehab appearances. <o:p>