Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong landed on the 10-disabled list for the second time in three weeks Thursday, this time with a right triceps strain suffered as he tried to check his swing in Wednesday night’s game.
Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong landed on the 10-disabled list for the second time in three weeks Thursday, this time with a right triceps strain suffered as he tried to check his swing in Wednesday night’s game.
Infielder Paul DeJong, who just was returned to Class AAA Memphis on Monday, was recalled after hitting two home runs in the two games he played there.
Wong, leading the club in hitting at .301, had been disabled most recently with a left elbow strain. He was riding a hitting streak of six games (nine for 20).
DeJong, 23, made his major league debut on May 28 in Colorado, hitting a home run in his first at-bat. He played in 12 games at second base and shortstop while batting .244 for the Cardinals before being returned to Memphis, where he had 13 homers for the season.
Wong said he first had hurt his right arm while on rehab last week at Class A Peoria.
“I thought eventually it would go away,” he said. “It didn’t seem like anything of concern until last night and the checked swing. I tried to turn a double play in the next inning and there was just a super sharp pain and I knew something was up.
“It hurt so bad when I threw that ball. That was one of the sharpest pains I’ve felt in a while. I felt like I threw a changeup, almost.”
When he hurt his right arm last week, Wong said, he didn’t know why, other than perhaps he was compensating for the left elbow. While he is out this time, Wong said, “Now I get a chance to make sure both (elbows) are correct. Hopefully, anything else in my body that’s not right right now, I can take care of.”
Wong was out 13 days the last time and he surmised that this absence would be about the same. But he was disappointed to get hurt again just as he was making significant strides offensively (nine for 20 in the hitting streak).
“I felt I’m really taking a turn with my swing,” he said. “So it’s tough to take a step back. But I know where I am as a player and I know what’s making me successful. It’s not coincidence or luck. I know what I’m doing and I know what’s been working.”