As part of a planned visit to the Dominican Republic to mark a milestone for the organization’s future, Cardinals executive John Mozeliak intends to make a side trip next week to check in on an essential part of the team’s present.
Outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who had surgery on his right shoulder earlier this offseason to address pain that limited him all of last season, has assured the team he will “be ready” for spring training. He has elected to house his rehab work in the Dominican instead of Jupiter, Fla., and that has left the team to check in remotely on Ozuna’s progress toward a throwing program.