Cardinals call pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon a year after a scary head injury

The Cardinals did not find the fountain of youth, but that will not stop them from looking. They should receive help from Monday's starter, Daniel Poncedeleon

Poncedeleon, a right-winger called from Triple-A Memphis before the start, has his own story, beyond that name. Last May, while he was bent for the Redbirds against the Iowa wolf cubs, Poncedeleon moved away from the right temple and collapsed into the land

Poncedeleon, then aged 25 years old, was taken to hospital with an epidural hematoma – bleeding from the brain – and underwent emergency surgery. He spent weeks in intensive care with a fatal injury, followed by months of no physical activity while he was recovering.

The rising battle of Poncedeleon up to the mound, which also includes a special hat with a carbon insert to protect his head. , is lost on the coaching staff of the Cardinals.

"Talk about a story back," said Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We are having one here (so) it is normal that maybe he is one of them." 19659002 "" I can not even imagine what he has been dealing with, and there, for a moment, he was touched and left. From the point of view of the lifestyle, the quality of life for him. To be so dogmatic with his state of mind that, "I will still be throwing and I will be throwing in the major leagues." We will see this sooner than later. It's impressive. "

St. Louis is sitting on the outskirts of the playoff race – 4 1/2 games in the game and 8 1/2 in the central NL – just one game over .500 after having fired Mike Matheny nine days earlier, maybe Poncedeleon, who holds a 2.15 MPM Triple-A, can give the rotation some life.