Church Expected to Hit IL as Cardinals Prepare to Call Up Bryan Torres

The Cardinal Chronicle
Church Expected to Hit IL as Cardinals Prepare to Call Up Bryan Torres
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Nathan Church’s steady climb in the Cardinals’ outfield has hit its first real pause.

Church, who was scratched from Thursday’s lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates after manager Oliver Marmol said the outfielder was “just a little beat up,” is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a lower-body issue, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.

The Cardinals have not yet publicly detailed the exact nature of the injury, but the expectation of an injured list move suggests this is more than a routine day-to-day situation. Church had become a useful piece in St. Louis’ outfield mix, giving the club a left-handed bat, defensive flexibility and enough production to stay in the conversation even as the roster picture tightened.

Through 45 games this season, Church has hit .247 with five home runs and 18 RBIs, according to Baseball-Reference. He has not been a finished product at the plate, but he has given the Cardinals real value while working through the normal ups and downs of a young major league outfielder.

The corresponding move is expected to be the promotion of Bryan Torres from Triple-A Memphis, giving the 28-year-old outfielder his long-awaited first major league opportunity.

Torres is already on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, which makes the move clean from a roster-management standpoint. The Cardinals selected his contract last November after his strong 2025 season in Memphis, and he opened 2026 back at Triple-A after being optioned during spring training.

Torres has continued to make his case the old-fashioned way — by hitting. In Memphis this season, he is batting .336 with 43 hits, two home runs, 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, according to available minor league stats.

This is the kind of move that tells two stories at once.

For Church, it is an unfortunate setback after earning a legitimate role in St. Louis. He was no longer simply a placeholder or emergency depth piece. He had become part of the daily roster conversation, especially with the Cardinals continuing to sort through their outfield alignment.

For Torres, it is the reward for persistence. His road has not been the glossy first-round-prospect route. He has had to earn attention one at-bat at a time, and now, barring a late change, that work is expected to carry him to St. Louis.

The Cardinals’ outfield remains a moving target, with Lars Nootbaar still working his way back and Jordan Walker dealing with his own injury concern after being hit on the wrist Wednesday. Church’s expected IL stint only adds another layer to a roster puzzle that was already getting crowded.

But for now, the immediate takeaway is simple: Church appears headed for the injured list, and Torres appears headed for his first major league call.

Sometimes baseball closes one door for one player and opens another for someone who has been standing in the hallway a long time.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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