John

Mabry

Mabry joined the team in 2023 as the assistant hitting coach but will now fill in for John Hart who left for a job with the Mariners. Mabry has been on the coaching scene since 2012, spending seven years in St. Louis before going to the Royals from 2020 to 2022. While Mabry slots into the primary hitting coach role, Bill Mueller will take Mabry’s previous position as the new assistant hitting coach. Mueller had a .291 batting average during his 11-year career in the big leagues and has been floating around in various front office, scouting, and coaching roles since retiring in 2006. This is a reunion for the duo who spent 2015 through 2018 with the Cardinals.

Mabry made his eighth start at the position Friday. Luna will get the nod today. Luna’s bat doesn’t scare anyone, and while Mabry is no Rolen, the Cards don’t lose too much when he’s in there. He’s hitting .303 with an 891 OPS this season and should be active in NL-only leagues until Rolen returns.

Mabry, who opened last season in the minors despite a fine spring, is pretty much guaranteed a place on this year’s roster.

The option was worth $1.5 million. Mabry, who gets a $250,000 buyout, could be brought back on a smaller contract.

Mabry is day-to-day.

Mabry is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. He’s eligible to return on Friday, but it looks like he’ll miss at least another 7-10 days.

Mabry (shoulder) has been activated from the DL but hasn’t returned to action.

Mabry could get a chance to compete for the starting job in left field, but he’s likely to be a bench player if he makes the Cardinals. His addition could push Steve Cox off the roster.

Mabry will be examined by Dr. Larry Pedegana when the Mariners return home, and hopes to be activated soon after he is eligible on June 13.

His back has been bothering him for most of the season, although Mabry has been reluctant to talk about it.