The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
O'Brien made the Cardinals' Opening Day roster but suffered a flexor strain in his first appearance and missed the remainder of the first half. He has pitched well since resurfacing at Memphis, posting a 1.35 ERA and 9:5 K:BB over 13.1 innings, to earn another look with the big club.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Activated, sent to Triple-A
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The Cardinals activated O'Brien (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis.
O'Brien has been sidelined since he suffered a flexor strain Opening Day against the Dodgers, and he'll head to the minors now that he's healthy. The 29-year-old allowed two earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over eight innings during his rehab assignment with Memphis.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Could be activated next week
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O'Brien (forearm) could be activated from the 60-day injured list next week after making two more rehab appearances with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien will make back-to-back appearances with Memphis on Saturday and Sunday, which would appear to be the final box he'll need to check before rejoining the Cardinals' bullpen. The reliever has been sidelined since suffering a right flexor strain back on Opening Day.
O'Brien (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien has been shelved since Opening Day due to a strained forearm but has finally been cleared for a rehab stint The 29-year-old has completed three live batting practice sessions and could rejoin the Cardinals' bullpen before the end of July.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Could begin rehab assignment soon
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O'Brien is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday with Double-A Springfield and could start a rehab assignment next week if it goes well, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Saturday will be O'Brien's third, and possibly last, live BP session, as the 29-year-old reliever could see game action as early as next week. O'Brien hasn't pitched in a game since Opening Day, when he sustained a strained forearm. He'll likely require several rehab appearances before being activated.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Set for another live session
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that O'Brien (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session at Double-A Springfield on Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien will throw approximately 20-to-25 pitches Wednesday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment with Springfield this weekend. The 29-year-old righty has been on the injured list since late March with a right forearm strain. He's expected to fill a low-leverage role out of the St. Louis bullpen once he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
O'Brien (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday and will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield on Tuesday if the live BP session goes well, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien suffered a setback in his recovery June 23, but he's nearing a return to game action, with Saturday's live BP his last checkpoint to clear before starting a rehab assignment. O'Brien has been shelved since March 31 but is on track for a late July return.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Set to throw bullpen
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O'Brien (forearm) will throw a bullpen in the next day or two, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Tuesday.
O'Brien was shut down from throwing June 23 after reporting pain in his forearm, but he's resumed a throwing program and has a bullpen session scheduled. The 29-year-old has been on the IL since March 31 due to a flexor strain in his right forearm.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Shut down after forearm setback
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O'Brien experienced renewed pain in his right forearm following his 20-pitch live batting practice session with Double-A Springfield on June 15 and underwent further testing and and consultation with Dr. Keith Meister, MLB.com reports.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol touched on O'Brien's status Saturday, noting that the right-hander's consultation with Dr. Meister isn't yet complete. A decision on O'Brien next step hasn't yet been decided, but surgery could be in the cards for the 29-year-old if Dr. Meister doesn't recommend rest and rehab as a treatment method. O'Brien won a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen coming out of spring training but made just one appearance before landing on the injured list with a right flexor tendon strain.
O'Brien (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien has been cleared for game action with Springfield after he threw live batting practice for the Cardinals' Double-A affiliate earlier this week. The right-hander has been on the shelf since March 31 with a forearm strain, so he'll presumably require multiple rehab outings in the minors before he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Tossing live BP
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O'Brien (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday at Double-A Springfield, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
O'Brien will face live hitters for the first time since going on the injured list back in March. If the live session goes well, the 29-year-old could begin a rehab assignment later in the week.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
O'Brien (forearm) is slated to throw another bullpen session Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
It's the second time he's thrown from the bump since he went down with a right flexor strain back in late March. O'Brien should be ready for a rehab assignment soon if he continues to progress.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Long tossing
Rotowire
O'Brien (forearm) has been playing long toss as he continues a throwing progression, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
O'Brien is working his way back from a right flexor strain. He was shifted to the 60-day injured list last week, so the right-hander won't be eligible for activation until the end of May. It's not clear when he might be ready to throw bullpen sessions.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Transferred to 60-day IL
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O'Brien (forearm) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien's transfer to the 60-day IL makes room on the 40-man roster for Kolton Ingram, who was acquired off waivers. O'Brien was close to starting his throwing program in mid-April, but no updates have been provided since. He'll be eligible for reinstatement May 30, though it seems far from definite that he'll be ready for immediate action.
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Close to starting throwing program
Rotowire
O'Brien (forearm) will begin a throwing program this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
An MRI on O'Brien's right forearm showed no structural damage, but the team decided to shut him down for a few weeks regardless. It sounds like O'Brien is about ready to begin ramping up his throwing, and provided he avoids any setbacks, a return in mid-to-late May seems plausible. O'Brien has made single appearances in the majors each of the past three seasons, all for different teams (Reds, Mariners, Cardinals).
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Shut down from throwing
Rotowire
O'Brien (forearm) underwent an MRI on his right flexor tendon Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien does not have any structural damage in his right forearm according to manager Oliver Marmol, though he will be shut down for a time being before returning to throwing down the road. The right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, but it sounds like he'll likely miss more than the minimum time. For the time being, southpaw John King was called up Sunday to replace O'Brien in the Cardinals' bullpen.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Out with flexor strain
Rotowire
O'Brien was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a flexor strain in his right forearm.
O'Brien struck out two and allowed a run on a hit and two walks over one inning during his season debut Thursday, but he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks. John King was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Auditioning well in spring
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O'Brien has allowed three hits and struck out two without walking a batter over three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play.
O'Brien was acquired in a trade with the Mariners in November and added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster. So far, he's making a good case for a bullpen spot in 2024. Last season was his first good one at the Triple-A level -- he had a 2.29 ERA and saved 15 games for Triple-A Tacoma, but it remains to be seen how he'll adjust to major-league hitters in a larger sample.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Acquired by Cardinals
Rotowire
The Cardinals acquired O'Brien from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for cash considerations and purchased his contract, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
O'Brien, 28, posted a dominant 2.29 ERA and 86:31 K:BB over 55 frames this past season at Triple-A Tacoma. He's allowed two runs over 2.1 innings during his brief time at the major-league level, which came over two appearances between 2021 and 2022. O'Brien joins the Cardinals' 40-man roster and should get the chance to compete for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.
