Cardinals activate Winn from IL, option OF Siani

ATLANTA -- Masyn Winn, who proved his immense value to the Cardinals in 2024 with his stellar defense at shortstop and his timely hitting at the plate, returned to the active roster and the starting lineup on Tuesday before the club faced the Braves.

To make room on the 26-player roster for Winn’s return, the Cardinals optioned reserve center fielder Michael Siani to Triple-A Memphis.

The Cardinals decided to keep reserve shortstop Thomas Saggese on the active roster because of how he’s handled the bat with Winn out and his defensive versatility. Saggese, 23, has hit in all nine of his starts this season. On the season, he’s 14-for-35 with four doubles, one homer and seven RBIs.

Winn, who had been out since April 11 with back spasms, was back in the starting lineup at shortstop on Tuesday when the Cardinals faced the Braves at Truist Park. A night earlier, St. Louis unraveled in the eighth inning when Atlanta star slugger Austin Riley beat out a slow roller to Brendan Donovan at shortstop and the Braves proceeded to score five runs for the victory.

Winn, 23, struggled throughout Spring Training and at the start of the season before showing flashes of the player who starred for the Cardinals in 2024 as a rookie. Just as his bat was starting to heat up, Winn was forced out of a game on April 11 after making a stellar play on a high chopper to get Phillies speedster Trea Turner at first base. At the time he was put on the 10-day injured list, Winn was hitting just .222 with one homer and three RBIs.

In 2024, Winn proved himself ready for big league baseball by finishing second in MLB in two-strike hits (80) while hitting .267 with 15 home runs, 57 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Siani, a defensive standout in 2024, had been used mostly as a defensive replacement and late-game pinch-runner early this season. Despite appearing in 18 games, he had gotten just 16 at-bats, going 4-for-16 with six strikeouts and one walk.