The Cardinals optioned opening day second baseman Norman Gorman to Class AAA Memphis on Wednesday amid his struggles at the plate, which have included 151 strikeouts in 107 games and an MLB-worst 37.6% strikeout rate.
Infielder Jose Fermin was recalled in a corresponding move.
While in the majors this year, Gorman has batted .203 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs. Gorman’s 19 home runs entering Wednesday tied him with Paul Goldschmidt for the second-most by a Cardinals hitter this season and were two shy of matching Alec Burleson’s 21 homers for the team lead.
But the left-handed-hitting infielder who led the Cardinals in home runs with 27 a year ago ranked in just the 1st percentile in whiff rate (38.7%) this season and had seven hits and 11 strikeouts in his most recent 33 at-bats.
In the Cardinals’ 3-2 loss on Tuesday to the Brewers, Gorman went hitless with three strikeouts in four at-bats. His third strikeout in the series opener vs. the National League Central leaders ended the game and left the bases loaded.
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Following Gorman's option, Brendan Donovan is expected to take on a regular role at second base. Donovan had played a mostly left field this year. The positional shift would allow outfield trade-deadline acquisition Tommy Pham to get more starting opportunities and for designated hitter Matt Carpenter to get more at-bats after he was activated from the injured list on Tuesday.
Prior to Wednesday's game between the Brewers and Cardinals, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the "less stressful" environment of the minor leagues will allow Gorman to continue working through swing mechanics while getting regular playing time with Memphis.
The move to option Gorman comes a day after the Cardinals optioned Jordan Walker and recalled Luken Baker from Class AAA.
Fermin, 25, last appeared in the majors on July 6. The infielder has batted .311 with a .924 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and a career-high eight home runs in 61 games with Class AAA Memphis. He is expected to provide infield depth now that he is back in the majors.
The Cardinals entered Wednesday 2-8 in their past 10 games. They trailed the Brewers by 12 games in the NL Central standings and were six games behind the Braves in the chase for the third and final NL wild-card spot. The Mets, Giants and Cubs (in that order) were ahead of the Cardinals in the NL wild-card standings at the start of Wednesday.