Fernandez appears to have won a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster after the team optioned John King to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
A Rule 5 pick in December, Fernandez posted a 3.72 ERA with six strikeouts and one walk across 9.2 innings in Grapefruit League play. The right-hander generated a bloated 6.46 ERA across 30.2 innings with Triple-A Worcester in 2023, but the Cardinals apparently saw enough this spring to invest a roster spot in him and thereby prevent Fernandez from reverting to the Red Sox organization. He and King had been competing for the final spot in the St. Louis bullpen, but barring any outside additions ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Dodgers, Fernandez will soon make his MLB debut.
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Cardinals' Ryan Fernandez: Making good impression
Rotowire
Fernandez has allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings in Grapefruit League play.
Fernandez was acquired by the Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft in December. He will need to be on the major-league roster for all of the 2024 campaign -- if not, he must be offered back to the Red Sox. Given his work in spring, the Cardinals may be able to find a role for the 25-year-old right-hander. There are still a lot of options for middle-relief roles, but Fernandez's good first impression may help him stick with St. Louis.
