For Cardinals outfielder Michael Siani, the nature of the oblique injury that sidelined him for nearly a month presented more than just an unfortunate 鈥減art of the game鈥 when you consider its timing.
Before landing on the injured list with a right oblique strain on Aug. 4, the 25-year-old rookie batted .282 in 74 games as the Cardinals鈥 primary starting center fielder. His consistency at the plate included a 22-game stretch in July during which he posted a .310 batting average and a .355 on-base percentage.
鈥淚 was in a really good spot when I got hurt,鈥 Siani said on Wednesday before starting in center field vs. the Cincinnati Reds.
Back from the injured list and inserted into the role he filled for over three months, Siani looks to get the 鈥渞hythm back鈥 that aided him before the oblique injury forced to the IL.
People are also reading…
鈥淯nfortunately, I think it鈥檚 just one of those things, getting comfortable again,鈥 Siani said. 鈥淲ith more at-bats, it鈥檚 going to feel more comfortable. But physically, I feel good. I鈥檓 in a good spot right now.鈥
Before Siani came off the injured list, he went through a gradual increase in workload that included taking simulated at-bats at Busch Stadium during live batting practice sessions as Lance Lynn rehabbed from a right knee injury. He followed that with four rehab games with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) to help him regain game speed and test his right oblique.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tedious stuff. Obliques are tough,鈥 Siani said. 鈥淲e made sure we were right and my body was feeling good and I was able to do everything comfortably. It鈥檚 tough. It鈥檚 not the easiest thing ever. ... It鈥檚 normal to have some feeling while you鈥檙e rehabbing. It鈥檚 normal to possibly have a setback, but we were able to get in a good spot pretty quick and obviously not too fast.鈥
Since coming off the IL when major league rosters expanded on Sept. 1, Siani has three hits in 23 at-bats. Of his three hits, the first came Sept. 3, during an extra-innings win in Milwaukee.
After his diving, potentially game-sealing catch wiggled out of the webbing of his glove in the 11th inning, Siani provided the Cardinals with the go-ahead hit they needed to snag a 7-4 win over the Brewers when he singled in two runs in the top of the 12th inning.
鈥淪ometimes when you come back from the IL, it takes a minute,鈥 Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. 鈥淗is (Siani鈥檚) at-bats were looking really good prior to the oblique (injury). I have confidence in him getting back to being able to take those quality at-bats.鈥
As he looks toward what the opportunity the final 18 games of the regular season may present for him, Siani described his process as stepping to the plate and 鈥済rinding out at-bats鈥 because 鈥渢hat鈥檚 really all you can do.鈥
What he displayed before the IL placement gives him a memory bank to pull from.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important. I always have that confidence,鈥 Siani said. 鈥淚 think that you鈥檙e not here if you don鈥檛 have that confidence. You鈥檝e got to bring that to the field every single day. I had that success. I was able to feel good up there and show what I can do, and I plan on continuing to do that. That鈥檚 kind of the thought, and that鈥檚 where mentally I鈥檓 at. Go out there and do everything I can help the team win.鈥
Extra bases
Chris Roycroft was optioned to Class AAA Memphis before Wednesday鈥檚 game to clear a spot on the 28-man active roster for Lynn, who returned from right knee inflammation. Roycroft, 27, appeared in three games after he was recalled on Sept. 7. The rookie right-hander allowed one run and struck out six batters in 3鈪 innings before being sent down to the minors.
- Class AA Springfield鈥檚 7-3 win on Tuesday against San Antonio matched the franchise record in wins, with 77 on the season. The 2024 Springfield Cardinals鈥 77 wins matched the win totals from the 2012 and 2017 Springfield clubs. The Cardinals鈥 Class AA affiliate has five more games left before it enters the Texas League Playoffs.
- Class Low-A Palm Beach won its first game of the Florida State League Division Series on Tuesday over Daytona. Palm Beach hitters combined for 11 hits in an 8-3 win. The PB-Cards received two RBIs apiece from JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals鈥 first round pick in the 2024 draft and two each from outfield prospect Joshua Baez and 2024 18th-round pick Christian Martin. A win on Thursday over Daytona at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, would send Palm Beach to the Florida State League Championship Series.
- As a part of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, players and coaches prepared care packages that will be delivered to military members at Scott Air Force Base. Along with other clubs across Major League Baseball, the hats worn by the Cardinals, Reds and umpire crew featured a silhouetted ribbon patch in memorial of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York.