Cards Promote Lars Nootbaar, Option Lane Thomas to AAA

Today, ahead of their two-game series with the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals promoted young outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the big leagues.

Nootbaar had been on the injured-list in Memphis with a hand injury, but was recently activated prior to being promoted. Nootbaar was hitting .329 with five homers and 17 RBIs down in Memphis.

In a corresponding move, the Cardinals optioned the struggling Lane Thomas to Memphis. Thomas currently has an abysmal average of .104 with no homers and just one RBI. The Cardinals also designated lefty reliever Bernardo Flores Jr. for assignment to make room for Nootbaar on the 40-man roster.

In fact, Nootbaar will be making his Major League debut tonight in Detroit, batting ninth and playing left-field.

St. Louis’ season has been marred by injuries and lack of consistency, most notably with their offense, so they’ll be hoping Nootbaar can provide a spark while also help plug a hole until Harrison Bader returns from a hairline fracture in his rib.

If Nootbaar can replicate his stats in Memphis, the Cardinals may be able to slide Tommy Edman back to second-base and possibly platoon Edmundo Sosa and Paul DeJong at short, while giving Lars Nootbaar starts in the outfield.

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