The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s game, that they have recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon from Memphis (AAA) and optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Helsley to the triple-A Redbirds.
Ponce de Leon, 27, will be making his second appearance for the Cardinals this season. He worked 5.0 innings in a start on April 23, allowing one run, while striking out seven, in the Cardinals 4-3 win over Milwaukee.
In 11 starts for Memphis this season, Ponce de Leon is 4-4 with a 3.90 ERA, striking out 47 in his 55.1 innings pitched, limiting the opposition to a .237 batting average. Ponce de Leon made his most recent start on June 6 at Tacoma, working 3.0 scoreless innings in planned short start.
Since debuting last season, Ponce de Leon is 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 12 career games (5 starts) for the Cardinals, striking out 38 batters in 38.0 innings pitched.
Helsley, who has had three stints with the Cardinals during his rookie season, worked scoreless innings in back-to-back outings at Chicago on Friday and Saturday. He’s appeared in six games, totaling 10.0 IP with 11 strikeouts since making his big league debut on April 16.
Ponce de Leon wears uniform no. 62.
