Cardinals Make Decision on Lights Out Triple-A Reliever

Svanson - who came to the Cardinals organization in 2023 as part of the trade that sent Paul Dejong to the Toronto Blue Jays - has carried a 1.59 ERA through four relief appearances with Memphis this season. 

The 26-year-old was lights out last season with Double-A Springfield, serving as the team's closer for the entirety of the year. 

In 53 relief appearances, Svanson went 27-for-27 in save opportunities - leading the Texas League in the category - while allowing only 19 earned runs across 63 and two-thirds innings pitched (2.69 ERA). 

Earning an All-Star nod in two consecutive years, the former 13th rounder has had a successful minor-league career, carrying an ERA of 2.98 over 220 2/3 innings pitched in four-plus seasons. Svanson racked up 43 saves in 45 opportunities during his 137-game climb to the bigs.  

Svanson was the only player sent back to the Cardinals in return for Paul Dejong, meaning his debut will be the first time the team will see a visual representation of the return for the long-time shortstop. 

Since the trade, Dejong has been a member of the Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and his current team the Washington Nationals, while Svanson has tormented his minor-league opponents for the Cardinals organization. 

MLB.com's John Denton reports that Svanson found out he had been called up during the eighth inning of last night's Memphis game and that he will have four family members in attendance for his potential MLB debut. 

Svanson was selected to the 40-man roster over the offseason, making him an easy choice for the Cardinals to call up while in need of bullpen arms.