The Cardinals announced Tuesday that they have selected the lefty’s contract Bruce Zimmermann from Triple-A Memphis. The liberator Ryan Fernandez optioned to Memphis to clear a spot on the active roster. To make room for the 40-man roster, the Cards have been properly positioned Max Rajcic on the 60-day injured list due to an unspecified right elbow problem. Manager Oli Marmol said last night that Rajcic was looking for a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, via Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, added that there is “real concern” about serious injuries to young people. The following placement of the 60-day IL clearly shows that.
St. Louis also announced this morning that it is okay Hunter Dobbins he will be the 27th man in today’s doubleheader. Matt Swanson starts in the bullpen in the first inning, with Zimmermann likely to follow in long relief. Dobbins gets the nod in the second game. Derrick Goold of St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cards are fine Michael McGreevy an extra day off with this setup.
Zimmermann, 31, spent the 2025 season in the Brewers organization, mostly in Triple-A. The former Orioles southpaw pitched six innings in his major league start last season in Nashville, where he totaled 138 innings with a solid 4.11 earned run average. He had a similarly good year in Triple-A with the Cardinals, working 78 2/3 frames over 15 starts and posting a 3.78 ERA. He’s thrown more sliders and splitters than usual with the Cardinals’ Memphis franchise this season and has enjoyed a 25.7% strikeout rate, slightly higher than last year’s 18.8% average.
Zimmermann has no minor league options, so this could be one opportunity for him. He won’t be available in relief for a few days if he pitches a few innings today, and the Brewers could recall Fernandez or another arm shortly after the All-Star break.
Fernandez has a solid 2.70 ERA in a small sample of 13 1/3 innings this season, but he went back-to-back days and was tagged with three runs (two earned) without recording an out last night. He wouldn’t be available for at least the next few days, so he’ll be traded for a new length option in Zimmermann.
The Rajcic news is very difficult for the organization. The 24-year-old right-hander was promoted to his first major league position last month. A 2022 sixth-round pick, Rajcic has pitched 40 2/3 Triple-A innings this season, posting a 2.88 ERA with a 28.4% strikeout rate and an 8.6% walk rate. He allowed five runs on six hits and six walks with eight strikeouts in his first career start, but now it looks like he’ll be out for a long time.
Second opinions from popular surgeons and unclear/improper IL placements are as dangerous as they are for junior assistants. IL’s departure today means the Cardinals have agreed he will miss at least two months. There will be natural speculation about UCL surgery, which will sideline Rajcic for most or all of the 2027 season, but a loose bone/body movement or flexor muscle strain could also require an extended shutdown while maintaining a less demanding recovery schedule. Jones noted that Rajcic’s second opinion may not come until next week, so it may be some time before there is definitive news about the young righty’s opinion.
