CINCINNATI — Cardinals center fielder Michael Siani described being back at Great American Ball Park beginning a series against the Cincinnati Reds as a “full circle†for good reason.
A fourth-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2018, Siani spent his entire professional career in that organization until the Reds designated him for assignment on Aug. 31, 2023, and the Cardinals claimed him off waivers and sent him to Triple-A Memphis. Siani played for the Cardinals in the majors for the first time a little less than a month later in San Diego on Sept. 22.
Siani, who started in center field and batted ninth on Monday, played against the Reds for the first time since last season when the Reds visited Busch Stadium at the end of September.
“A lot of these guys I played a lot of baseball with, so it will be cool,†Siani said. “I mean, I got to play against them last year at the end of the year in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, but coming back here playing every day as a starter, it’s going to be different. It’ll be good to see them and all the coaches and staff.â€
People are also reading…
Siani went into spring training this year seemingly a long shot to even make the opening day roster. If the Cardinals projected outfield of Lars Nootbaar, Tommy Edman and Jordan Walker had been healthy, Dylan Carlson would’ve likely served as the fourth outfielder. That would’ve pushed Siani back to Triple-A.
Instead, Siani, 24, entered Monday having spent the entire season on the major-league roster and having started 32 games. He made 30 of those first 32 starts in center field, where he’d provided a level of stability to an outfield defense the Cardinals desperately needed to improve from last season.
“This was our hope,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of how the Cardinals viewed Siani. “Even conversations in the beginning of spring. … He did all the small things that allow you to carry him. Then when a couple guys get hurt and he gets an opportunity, he showed how consistent he is out there. That has been a big part of our wins, him being in center field.â€
Siani went into the day leading all outfielders in the majors in outs above average as well as runs prevented.
“I take a lot of pride in playing defense and doing what I can every day to make plays,†Siani said.
Defense had been the ticket that Siani rode to the majors when he made his debut with Reds in September 2022.
Asked what stood out in his mind about his debut and playing in this ballpark for the first time, Siani said, “Just all the hard work I put in to get to that spot, having my family out here for it. A lot of emotion, for sure. It wasn’t the most packed-out place at that time. We’d struggled a little bit that year. But the opportunity itself to make it to the big leagues, start a big league game, play center field, get some at-bats and enjoy it as best I could. It was awesome for my family.â€
Both of Siani’s brothers were in attendance for his debut as well as his parents. His brother, Sammy, had just concluded the minor league season as a player in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system.
The Cardinals began their longest road trip of the season on Monday, a nine-game trip over 10 days that will include series against the Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. The Philadelphia series will be a homecoming series for Siani, who played high school baseball at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. He also won the 2017-18 Gatorade Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year.
Wednesday’s starter still TBA
Marmol did not name a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game. He said the starter will depend on how the staff gets used in the first two games in Cincinnati.
Left-hander Matthew Liberatore has started three games after he began the season in the bullpen, and the Cardinals also recalled right-hander Andrew Pallante from Triple-A prior to Sunday’s game. Pallante began the season in the major-league bullpen, but he made three starts at Triple-A and he threw 84 pitches in his last outing.
Marmol said both Liberatore and Pallante would be available out of the bullpen to start the series.
Nootbaar gets another dayThe Cardinals scratched Nootbaar from the starting lineup on Sunday night due to left hamstring tightness, stemming from a triple he hit in Saturday night’s game.
Nootbaar was not in the lineup again on Monday, though Marmol expressed optimism about Nootbaar’s availability going forward.
“I don’t see it lingering for much longer,†Marmol said. “I think we’re being smart about it. I just don’t want to regret throwing him out there and something happening and he’s out for five or six weeks.â€