On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced a long-term minor league depth addition.
The Cardinals announced a few minor league moves early in the day. The announcement included the release of right-handed pitcher Edwin Núñez, 24, by St. Louis. In addition to Núñez’s release, the Cardinals moved Flamethrower up to Class-A on his minor league rehab assignment, reinstated Jared Shuster from the Development List, promoted righty Nolan Sparks to Double-A, and assigned Trey Pooser to Peoria after acquiring him from the Tampa Bay Rays.
“LHP Jared Shuster (AAA) has been reinstated from the Development List,” the Cardinals said. “RHP Nolan Sparks has been transferred from Peoria (A+) to Springfield (AA). RHP Trey Pooser has been sent to Peoria. LHP Brandon Clarke’s (AA) rehab assignment has been shifted from the FCL to Palm Beach (A). RHP Edwin Núñez (AA) has been given his unconditional release.”
The Cardinals Were Busy On Sunday
Núñez spent his entire six-year experience in professional baseball in the Cardinals’ system before his release on Sunday. His professional baseball career began back in 2021 with Class-A Palm Beach. Since then, he bounced up and down between the FCL Cardinals and up to Double-A Springfield. But he wasn’t able to get past Double-A in the Cardinals’ organization. Before being released, Núñez had 24 appearances with Double-A Springfield and recorded a 10.17 ERA.
His greatest season came back in 2023. In 41 Class-A and High-A appearances that year, he had a 3.39 ERA. Since then, he hasn’t finished a season with an ERA below 7.68. Unfortunately, the righty wasn’t able to put it all together in the Cardinals’ system. What made him stand out was a searing fastball that exceeded 100 miles per hour, but the command wasn’t there. For example, he walked 25 batters this season in 23 innings thrown. Last year, he walked 53 batters in 45 2/3 innings pitched.
Naturally, the most intriguing decision, aside from the release of Núñez, is the minor league rehab assignment for No. 7 prospect Brandon Clarke. Clarke has made two appearances so far this season and peaked out at 103.1 miles per hour with his fastball in his second outing of the season.
Although Pooser is currently unknown to Cardinals fans, he should be intriguing as well. As the player to be named later in the Chris Roycroft trade, he was acquired by the Cardinals on July 17. Pooser had a 3.44 ERA in 16 Class-A and High-A appearances prior to moving to St. Louis.
