Back to the Minors 2: Taveras, Polanco, Bundy, Lindor and Nicolino
By Jay Blue
Feb 17, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras (77) leaves the batting cage during spring training at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Keeping up on the movement from major league camps back to minor league camps, Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals’ top prospect, was optioned back to the minor leagues on Thursday. Taveras has been plagued by injury problems including the recovery from his late-season ankle surgery and a hamstring strain. The club expects to see him back in the majors by the end of the year but feel that he’ll be able to get the playing time that he needs in minor league camp.
The Pirates also optioned their top prospect, Gregory Polanco to Indianapolis, claiming that they want him to see more offspeed pitches in Triple-A. Polanco goes down to the minors despite a .273/.304/.500 triple slash line in 10 Grapefruit League games.
The Orioles’ Dylan Bundy also gets shuffled to the minor leagues, getting assigned to Double-A Bowie in order for him to continue his rehab.
The Cleveland Indians sent shortstop Francisco Lindor to the minors while the Marlins sent Justin Nicolino also goes back to minor league camp. Neither player is on his team’s 40-man roster and so doesn’t need to be optioned back.