Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks, who opted out of the 2020 season as a person who has Type 1 diabetes and would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus, probably wasn’t going to be able to pitch this season anyway, said manager Mike Shildt Tuesday night.
Hicks, who missed the second half of last season when he suffered a torn elbow ligament, encountered some elbow inflammation when he threw a bullpen session this past week. Shildt said that Hicks already wasn’t programmed to pitch in a game until Aug. 18, nearly a month into the season. He has been shut down now and wouldn’t be able to pitch in September, if then, Shildt surmised.