Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras likely to start season with Memphis Redbirds

If it’s not an ankle, it’s a hamstring. While most Cardinals fans had helped that Oscar Taveras would have been fully rehabbed from his ankle injury last season, the Cardinals top prospect has been plagued by a hamstring of late.
Feb 24, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals player Oscar Taveras (77) during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Taveras is being sidelined by a tight hamstring in the same right leg in which he broke his ankle last summer.

Mike Matheny sounded pessimistic when it came to Taveras starting the season with the Cardinals. As things stand now, the prized prospect will be starting the season with the Memphis Redbirds (AAA – Pacific Coast League).

"“It’s not possible — without him being healthy,” Matheny said. “He needed for everything to go right for that to be a possibility. It’s definitely something that’s holding him up.”"

At 21 years of age, time is still on Taveras’ side to have a promising career ahead of him with the Cardinals at the big league level. The Cardinals do not need to rush him up to St. Louis. As Gordo notes, there is plenty of depth and this is something that fans should be thankful for.

"If he becomes the Next Hector Luna and never amounts to much, the franchise will survive. Young outfielders Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk are moving into line for right field opportunities and James Ramsey isn’t far behind."

For the Cardinals sake, let us hope that he doesn’t become the next Luna.

Matt Adams will start the season at first base while Allen Craig, who signed a contract extension this time last year, will take over right field this season. This is reason #1 as to why Taveras won’t be rushed. If the Cards don’t have the at-bats to get him, they can keep him down in Memphis where he can work on hitting against AAA pitching. Meanwhile, Jon Jay will also be joining the competition for at-bats with Shane Robinson especially with the arrival of center fielder Peter Bourjos during the offseason.

As he built himself back to full strength this spring, Taveras was only limited to playing in two games in Grapefruit League action until he pulled his hamstring.