Manager Mike Shildt, pitching coach Mike Maddux and Cardinals lefthander Kwang Hyun Kim had “the talk” over the weekend.
If Kim, who was on the injured list with an elbow problem, wanted to continue as a starter, he might need another rehab outing or two in the minors, he was told. If he wanted to come back to the major league club more quickly, he could do it as a reliever.
Kim threw 34 pitches in one rehab start at Class AAA Memphis last week. He decided he didn’t want to go back and he will be in the Cardinals’ bullpen, replacing Junior Fernandez on the roster, Shildt said.