Cards activate Wacha; Purchase Scruggs from Memphis

(Press Release; Photo Credit: David Carson)

The St. Louis Cardinals activated RHP Michael Wacha from the 60-day disabled list to make tonight’s start in Milwaukee and have purchased the contract of first baseman Xavier Scruggs from Memphis (AAA). Outfielder Shane Robinson was moved from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list.

Wacha, 23, the Cardinals first round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, missed 68 games on the disabled list since June 18th with a right shoulder stress reaction. The 2013 National League Championship Series MVP has not seen Major League action since a start on June 17th vs. New York. He made a rehab start for Springfield (AA) on Sunday night and threw 2.0 scoreless innings. Wacha was 5-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 15 starts this season before the injury.

Robinson, 29, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury on August 26th following a stolen base attempt at Pittsburgh on August 25th, and will be moved to the 60-day disabled list.

Scruggs, 26, a 19th round selection out of UNLV in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, had a breakout season in Memphis, batting .286 with 21 home runs and 87 RBI over a career-high 135 games this season. He finished among the Pacific Coast League leaders in RBI (87, 5th), runs scored (82, 7th), games played (153, T6th), home runs (21, T13th) and extra base hits (53, 14th), while batting .328 with runners in scoring position. Scruggs hit .353 with 12 home runs over the last 50 games of the regular season, while batting .345 with 8 HR and 28 RBI in August. He earned PCL Player of the Week honors for the week of August 11-17 batting .458 (11-24) with 3 HR, 11 RBI and an on base+slugging percentage of 1.559. He posted two multi-homer games and two games with five or more RBI in the final month of the season.

Scruggs has hit 134 career home runs and 488 RBI over 771 games in the minor leagues and clubbed 20 or more home runs in each of his last five seasons.

Scruggs will wear uniform No. 59.