On Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals got some really bad news ahead of their short two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Alex Reyes, who was the All-Star for the team in 2021 before fighting in the second half, is in need of shoulder surgery, which will likely keep him out for the rest of the 2022 season.
The surgery is set for the end of May, when Reyes was expected to return early and give the card’s bullpen a boost.
Instead, the race is more likely to end the season.
The 27-year-old fireballer led 10-8 with a 3.24 ERA in 69 games last season.
Alex Reiss and the brutal news for it #STLC card. After seeing Dr. Neil L’Atre in Los Angeles, it was decided that Reyes would need surgery for shoulder pain. That surgery is scheduled for the end of May and will probably (but certainly not) be the end of his season.
– Katie U (katiejwoo) May 23, 2022
The race is probably done for the season
This is some absolutely gruesome news for the Cardinals, who were already without Jack Flaherty and are now preparing to have Steven Matz out for a while.
Reyes was an all-star in 2021 after being influential in the first half, but began to fight in the second half and lost a job close to Giovanni Gallegos.
Injuries are now being credited to the Cardinals.
Dylan Carlson is also going to miss some time due to hamstring injury.
But Reyes was a key member of St. Louis Bullpen last year, even after losing his job at Closer.
He helped sort things out when the whole pitching staff was paralyzed by various injuries.
Losing him all season is a big blow for the Cardinals.
It is quite possible that they may find themselves in the market for some bullpen help within the trading period.
During this time, they will continue to trust Ryan Helsley, Genesis Cabrera and Gallegos in higher leverage situations late in the game.