St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tyler O’ Neill. (Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)
The Cardinals got some positive injury news on Monday as left fielder Tyler O’Neill was cleared for baseball activities after a wrist injury.
On the same day St. Louis had to put pitcher Jack Flaherty on the 60-day IL, it wasn’t all bad news on the injury front.
The Cardinals got a positive update from left fielder Tyler O’Neill, who took a blow to the wrist during a rehab assignment for another injury.
O’Neill was cleared for baseball activities and completed a workout, throwing and taking batting practice on Monday.
Tyler O’Neill injury update: LF cleared for baseball activities
“It was a big day to obviously get tested out and be cleared. Everything’s feeling good with every baseball activity I’ve demonstrated today,” O’Neill said. “The big thing is going to be recovering tomorrow, seeing how I feel in the morning. I don’t have any doubts I’ll be ready to go so we’ll see what happens.”
O’Neill was on his way back from a hamstring injury when he took a ball to the wrist. Fortunately, there was no fracture. However, there was still a concern about ligament damage and whether it would further his absence.
Now that he has been cleared, the biggest hurdle for O’Neill will be pain management. If he can manage the pain, it’s not certain if he will be sent down for some time in the minors or if he’ll make it straight back into the lineup.
O’Neil last played on June 19. This season he is batting .241/.292/.361 with four home runs and 28 RBI in 45 games.
The Cardinals are currently without catcher Yadier Molina, center fielder Harrison Bader and pitcher Steven Matz, along with Flaherty and others.