The Cardinals made the inevitable the official on Tuesday afternoon.
The club placed flame-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks on the injured list with right elbow inflammation prior to Tuesday’s tilt with the Mets — a necessary move due to the fallout of Hicks’ MRI results and the need to return right-hander Johan Oviedo from the Minor Leagues to make the start against New York.
The move, retroactive to Sunday, derails Hicks — who exited Saturday’s 12-5 win over the Pirates with inflammation in his right elbow — amid a return to the Majors 22 months in the making. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2019 and then opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as a high-risk individual (Type 1 diabetes).
The club has said that the type of inflammation Hicks is experiencing is common for a player returning from an invasive surgery like Tommy John, and though the Cards were not “overly concerned” with the initial prognosis over the weekend, they are electing caution with their prized 24-year-old.
Procedurally, the Cardinals needed to make an injured list move if they wanted Oviedo to pitch opposite Jacob deGrom on Tuesday, since he was less than 10 days out from his last Minor League optioning. Hicks was thought to be that move since shuffling plans pregame on Monday, but the club wanted to immerse itself more in the MRI readings before making a decision.