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St. Louis Cardinals: Ruben Tejada suffers left quad strain

Landon Clapp
Landon Clapp

Redbird Rants

Mar 20, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ruben Tejada (19) and manager Mike Matheny (22) before the game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. The Marlins defeated the Cardinals 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals looked to have their 25-man roster squared away. Ruben Tejada’s quad injury in today’s final spring game will complicate matters.

Shortstop number two is down…

Ruben Tejada was forced to exit the St. Louis Cardinals’ final spring training game with a left quad strain.

Tejada was brought in to spell the already injured Jhonny Peralta, who isn’t expected to return to action until at least the middle of June.

There haven’t been any details regarding the severity of Tejada’s injury or if it will require a DL stint, only that he will be reevaluated tomorrow.

In the event that Tejada should land on the DL to start the season, Jedd Gyorko figures to be the Cardinals opening day shortstop with left-hander Francisco Liriano on the hill for the Pirates.

The injury would also open a roster spot for projected Memphis shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who impressed this spring.

Likewise, it could open a bench spot for Jeremy Hazelbaker.

With a three-run home run in today’s game against the Yankees, Hazelbaker is now tied with Tommy Pham (who also homered today) for the team lead in long balls on the spring.

Next: Jordan Walden to start 2016 on DL

Stay tuned for updates on the Tejada injury and any subsequent roster move the Cardinals make ahead of Sunday.

Landon Clapp

Landon Clapp

Landon began writing and editing for Redbird Rants in January 2016. He is a native of Columbia, MO relocated to Denver, Colorado. A May 2015 graduate of the University of Central Missouri, he is currently attending the University of Colorado-Denver where he is working towards obtaining an MS in Management degree with a Sport and Entertainment Management Emphasis. A die-hard Cardinals fan and "baseball guy", Landon is incredibly excited about the opportunity to write about his favorite team and the game he loves.