- LOUIS, MO., May 21, 2022 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have selected the contract of rookie left-handed pitcher Matthew Liberatore from Memphis (AAA), and added him to the team’s 26-player active roster. He is scheduled to make his Major League debut in a start tonight at Pittsburgh.
The team also announced that rookie right-handed pitcher Jake Walsh has been optioned to Memphis and that right-handed pitcher T.J. Zeuch has been designated for assignment to make room for Liberatore on the team’s 40-player Major League roster.
Liberatore was leading Memphis with his 3.83 ERA and ranked third among Triple-A pitchers in both innings pitched (40.0) and strikeouts (46) at the time of his promotion. He compiled a career-best 16.2 scoreless innings streak last month.
A former no. 1 draft selection (16th player overall) of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, Liberatore will become the first Cardinals pitcher to debut in a start against the Pirates since Alan Benes in 1995 and the first lefty to do so since Ray Sadecki in 1960. Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean is another notable Cardinal to have debuted against the Pirates, tossing a three-hit complete game in his first Major League start in 1930.
Liberatore will wear uniform no. 52.
