JUNIOR FERNÁNDEZ NEWS

Sent to minors The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Fernandez earned the win in 0.2 innings of relief Thursday and now heads to Triple-A with Kwang Hyun Kim (elbow) back from the injured list. Eight of Fernandez's last nine big-league appearances have been scoreless, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him back with the Cardinals at some point this season.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets first win Fernandez (1-0) was credited with the victory in a win over the Brewers on Thursday, firing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

Impact The right-hander closed out the fifth inning for Jon Lester and then became the pitcher of the record courtesy of the Cardinals' five-run tally in the home half of the frame. Fernandez now has scoreless efforts in eight of his last nine appearances, a stretch that's helped lower his ERA nearly three full runs from 8.38 to 5.40.

AUGUST 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled by Cardinals Fernandez was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Impact Fernandez was sent down shortly after the All-Star break, and he posted an 8.00 ERA and 2.22 WHIP in nine innings across eight relief appearances in the minors since then. He'll offer a low-leverage relief option after Justin Miller was placed on the 10-day injured list with right ulnar nerve irritation Wednesday.

AUGUST 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Memphis Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez has thrown 17.2 innings at the big-league level this season but has failed to find much success. He owns a 5.60 ERA and 1.98 WHIP, striking out 11 batters while walking 13. Johan Oviedo was recalled in a corresponding move and will start Tuesday against the Cubs.

JULY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Positive start to second half Fernandez fired a scoreless ninth inning in a loss to the Giants on Friday, allowing a hit and a walk.

Impact The right-hander bounced back nicely from a rocky appearance on July 9, when he'd given up two earned runs over two-thirds of an inning to the Cubs. Fernandez has otherwise been very sharp since mid-June, with Friday's scoreless effort his seventh in the last eight trips to the mound.

JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Impressive stretch continues Sunday Fernandez fired two scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and a walk while recording two strikeouts in a loss to the Pirates on Sunday.

Impact The right-hander now has five consecutive scoreless appearances following a brief rough patch where he allowed six earned runs over a pair of early-June outings. Fernandez has managed to coax his ERA and WHIP back down to 5.28 and 1.96, respectively, during that sample, and manager Mike Shildt continues to afford him a fairly consistent workload that nevertheless has yet to yield a hold opportunity.

JUNE 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Going through rough patch Fernandez has allowed six earned runs on eight hits while recording three strikeouts over the two innings covering his last two appearances.

Impact The right-hander has seen his ERA and WHIP quickly balloon up to 8.38 and 1.97, respectively, due to the pair of rocky outings. Fernandez had fired 6.2 perfect fames across three appearances leading into his current struggles, however, so there's certainly reason to believe he can bounce back from his current downturn.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Effective in majors return Fernandez fired two scoreless innings during which he issued two walks but allowed no hits in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Impact The right-hander fired 25 pitches during his outing, which afforded the rest of the Cardinals bullpen some rest in the latter portion of the lopsided loss. Fernandez is likely to continue mainly drawing multi-inning assignments while up with the big-league club.

MAY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

O'Neill homers again, Cards send D'backs to 13th loss in row

Tyler O’Neill homered for a third straight game, Yadier Molina had three RBIs and the St. Louis Cardinals won 7-4 on Saturday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have lost 13...

MAY 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recalled by Cardinals Fernandez was recalled by the Cardinals on Saturday.

Impact Fernandez was sent down Friday, but he'll return to the major-league bullpen just one day later. Right-hander Johan Oviedo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Impact Fernandez was recalled by the Cardinals on Sunday and made just one relief appearance during his time with the major-league club. During that outing, he allowed three hits and no walks while striking out one in 2.2 scoreless innings. Right-hander Johan Oviedo was recalled by St. Louis in a corresponding move.

MAY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to majors Fernandez was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

Impact The 24-year-old was sent to the minors Tuesday but will rejoin the Cardinals with Miles Mikolas (forearm) heading back to the injured list. Fernandez surrendered three runs over one inning during his lone appearance of the season.

MAY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Arenado, Edman lead Cardinals to 5-2 win over Pirates

Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer, his fourth in four games, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2

MAY 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Optioned to Triple-A Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez spent just three days on the big-league roster, allowing three runs in one inning of work in his lone appearance. He'll make way for Daniel Ponce de Leon (shoulder), who returns from the injured list in a corresponding move.

MAY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hit hard in '21 debut Fernandez, recalled by the Cardinals earlier in the day, allowed three earned runs on two hits and two walks over one inning in relief in a loss to the Padres on Saturday.

Impact Fernandez got only 12 of 28 pitches into the strike zone during an arduous fifth inning against a hot-hitting Padres squad. The 24-year-old hasn't seen any real success against big-league bats since 2019, as he also pitched to an 18.00 ERA and 2.67 WHIP during a brief three-appearance, three-inning majors stint in 2020. Needless to say, Fernandez figures in for only low-leverage scenarios during his current tenure with the Cardinals.

MAY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Called up by Cardinals Fernandez was recalled by St. Louis on Saturday.

Impact Fernandez is a 24-year-old with some potential as a possible future high-leverage reliever, but he hasn't been particularly effective in 14.2 innings at the highest level over the last two seasons. He likely deserves better than his 7.98 ERA, but his combination of a 25.7 percent strikeout rate, 11.4 percent walk rate and 45.0 percent groundball rate hardly turns heads. That should limit him to lower-leverage opportunities for now. Johan Oviedo was optioned in a corresponding move.

MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could Junior Fernandez be the Cardinals’ future closer? If Alex Reyes shifts to the rotation in 2022, could Junior Fernandez be his replacement in the ninth inning going forward? Alex Reyes has em...

MAY 14, 2021 • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Sent to minor-league camp Fernandez was optioned to minor-league camp by the Cardinals on Saturday.

Impact The 24-year-old was competing for a spot in the St. Louis bullpen, but he was unable to crack the Opening Day roster after surrendering three runs on five hits in two appearances this spring. Fernandez has a 7.98 ERA over 14.2 big-league innings in his career and should begin the 2021 campaign with Triple-A Memphis.

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to alternate training site Fernandez was optioned to the alternate training site Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Fernandez joined the big-league club last week and delivered a scoreless inning during his lone appearance. The 23-year-old has allowed six runs on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks over three innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals put Hudson on 45-day IL, bring Whitley back

The St. Louis Cardinals shut down Dakota Hudson for the season by transferring him to the 45-day injured list Tuesday while activating reliever Kodi Whitley and optioning Junior Fe...

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Braun 350th career HR, later plunked; Brews, Cards split DH

Brent Suter and three relievers combined on a two-hitter and Ryan Braun hit his 350th career homer, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 for a doubleheade...

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates earn doubleheader sweep over Cardinals

Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier singled in runs, rookie Cody Ponce earned his first big league victory and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 for a doubleheader...

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: COVID-stricken Cards shuffle roster, Soto a go

The coronavirus-ridden Cardinals are expected to make more transactions a day after placing six players on the injured list, including confirmed COVID-19 cases Yadier Molina, Paul...

AUGUST 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cards' Yadier Molina says he tested positive for COVID-19

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina says he’s one of the players on the team who tested positive for COVID-19

AUGUST 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cards' Junior might graduate to closer Junior Fernandez's alarm goes off first.

MARCH 4, 2020 • NWAONLINE.COM