Jose

Rondon

Rondón, who hit .216/.274/.353 in 169 major league games from 2016-21, will be returning to the U.S. for the first time since getting an 80-game steroid ban in Apr. 2022. The 29-year-old was terrific in Venezuelan Winter League action, hitting .338/.413/.624 with 13 HR in 247 PA for Caracas. It’s doubtful that he’ll make the Mets, but if he keeps crushing it in Triple-A, he might get a look as a bench guy.

Rondon tested positive for Boldenone. He was non-tendered by the Cardinals over the offseason and has yet to catch on with a new team. Now we know the likely reason why.

Rodriguez was one of three notable players -- Jose Rondon and Danny Santana being the others -- to test positive for Boldenone. All three players are currently free agents and would have to serve their suspension with whichever team winds up signing them (assuming they do, in fact, get signed).

Rondón, 27, batted .263/.322/.413 with three home runs and two stolen bases in 63 games (90 plate appearances) this past season for St. Louis. He is now officially a free agent.

Carlson was removed in the fourth inning Thursday afternoon against the Pirates because of the wrist issue, with Jose Rondon taking over in left field. More should be known about the severity of the injury by Fridaay. Carlson finished 1-for-3 with a single, a stolen base, and a run scored.

Carlson may have tweaked something on a strikeout that ended the Cardinals’ four-run top of the fourth inning. Jose Rondon entered in left field to begin the bottom of the fourth.

Edman was a late scratch on Tuesday evening after feeling some tightness in the lower part of his right abdomen during pregame warmups, though manager Mike Shildt later played down any concern. Consider him day-to-day for now. Edmundo Sosa is at second base and hitting sixth in the matinee against the Marlins, with Jose Rondon starting in right field and batting eighth. Dylan Carlson will lead off.

Rondón takes the place of Max Moroff, who is on the injured list with a shoulder subluxation. The 27-year-old showed off some power in Triple-A Memphis with six homers, but was hitting just .235 in 85 at-bats. He’ll likely be a bench option while with St. Louis.

Rondon was trying to win a spot on the Cardinals bench, but instead he’ll report to minor league camp -- assuming he’s not released -- and be depth for the Cards in 2021.

Rondon is capable of playing all over the field, but he’s posted just a .595 OPS over parts of three seasons in the majors and hasn’t hit much in the minors, either. He’ll turn 27 in March.