Maikel

Cleto

Cleto allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings of Grapefruit League action this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander will function as organizational relief depth this year for the defending World Series champions.

Cleto appeared in four games for the Cardinals earlier this month. He’ll serve as a middle reliever initially, but has the makeup to be used in a setup role.

He’ll take one of the roster spots vacated by Brandon Dickson and Chuckie Fick, who were optioned to the minors Thursday. The Cards will make another move Friday. Cleto, 23, has a 4.50 ERA and 34/9 K/BB ratio over 26 innings at the Triple-A level this year. The hard-throwing right-hander will likely be used in a middle relief role.

Cleto has registered a poor 5.40 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in five innings of relief this season for the defending World Series champions. The 23-year-old can hit the upper-90s with his fastball but doesn’t have the secondary stuff to be a successful major league reliever at this point.

Cleto appeared in just four games for the Cardinals, registering a poor 5.40 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over five innings of work. He has a live arm, but needs to refine his game in the minor leagues before he is ready to contribute full-time at the big league level.

Cleto was demoted to make room for Trevor Rosenthal’s promotion. The 23-year-old will return to a 4.50 ERA and 34/9 K/BB ratio over 26 minor league innings.

Cleto has just a 5.67 ERA in 13 appearances (six starts) with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate. The hard-throwing 24-year-old will provide bullpen depth.

Cleto allowed five earned runs over 2 1/3 innings Wednesday in a long relief appearance against the Diamondbacks. The hard-throwing right-hander owns an ugly 10.34 career ERA in the major leagues.

Cleto impressed this spring, posting a 1.35 ERA while striking out 10 over 6 2/3 innings, but he didn’t have a real shot to crack the Opening Day roster. The hard-thrower should be up with the big club at some point this season, though.

Cleto has a fastball that can occasionally reach triple digits, but he rarely knows where it’s going. The 24-year-old has put up a 6.92 ERA and 53/53 K/BB ratio over 53 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season. He’s been assigned to Triple-A Omaha.