Tyler O'neill
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2019Vigilantes371371528155075543000.2040.2380.394
2020Vigilantes3613114251160512451000.1910.2640.351
2021Vigilantes10838642614313022271148020.1580.2220.363
2022Vigilantes1385057312166241353517512010.2400.3180.499
2023Vigilantes62216213418317218113110.1570.2380.278
2024Vigilantes3813115301890810421000.2290.2840.481
2025Vigilantes10383630031120000.1580.1790.395
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 30 2025O'Neill (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, and he could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list at some point during the Orioles' current road trip, which ends Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is making steady progress in his recovery from a lingering left shoulder injury after he sustained a setback in early June. Assuming all goes well with Norfolk, O'Neill should be back with the Orioles sometime this week. Since starting back up his rehab assignment June 22, O'Neill is 4-for-18 (.222) with a home run and nine strikeouts across six games.
Jun 24 2025O'Neill (shoulder) had his minor-league rehab assignment moved to Double-A Chesapeake on Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on June 7 before being shut down with renewed soreness in his left shoulder. The outfielder resumed playing with High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. He has now reported to Chesapeake for the next step in his recovery from a left shoulder impingement, and O'Neill will likely head to Triple-A in the coming days for his final destination before potentially returning to the major-league roster. O'Neill has been out since May 18, having posted a disappointing .188 average with two home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases over 80 at-bats in 24 games with the Orioles before going down with the injury.
Jun 22 2025Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino indicated before Sunday's game that O'Neill (shoulder) was ready to resume his rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being placed on the injured list May 18 due to a left shoulder impingement, O'Neill kicked off a rehab assignment June 7 with Triple-A Norfolk. However, after playing just three games, O'Neill experienced renewed soreness in his shoulder and was pulled off the assignment. The 30-year-old received an injection in the AC joint of his shoulder which appears to have eliminated the discomfort, and O'Neill is now ready to test himself in a game setting again. He might need more than a handful of games in the minors to get his timing back at the plate before the Orioles activate him from the IL.
Jun 20 2025Orioles manager Tony Mansolino said Friday that O'Neill (shoulder) could embark on a rehab assignment Tuesday, if not sooner, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was shut down from all baseball activities after receiving an injection in his left shoulder this past Saturday. The extra time off appears to have done the trick, as the veteran outfielder is on the cusp of resuming his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk. O'Neill has been limited to just 24 major-league games this season due to injury and has a .188/.280/.325 slash line with two steals, three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in 93 plate appearances.
Jun 14 2025O'Neill received an injection in his left shoulder Saturday and will pause all activity for about a week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was pulled off his rehab assignment this week after reporting renewed soreness in his shoulder, which has kept him on the injured list since mid-May. The veteran outfielder appeared close to making his return to the Orioles, but it's now unclear how much longer he's expected to be sidelined. His status should be updated at the end of the rest period.
Jun 12 2025O'Neill is sitting out a second straight rehab game during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday due to renewed left shoulder soreness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.comreports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 4-for-10 at the plate in his first three rehab contests, starting at designated hitter in the first game and in right field for the next two. However, the left shoulder impingement that sent him to the 10-day injured list nearly a month ago is evidently still giving him problems. O'Neill is expected to receive "a few days rest," per Kubatko, so the Orioles seem to think he's not dealing with a significant setback. However, O'Neill no longer looks to be a candidate to be activated from the injured list for this weekend's series versus the Angels.
Jun 7 2025O'Neill (shoulder) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is in the final stages of his recovery from a left shoulder impingement that caused him to land on the injured list May 16. He may need only a couple of rehab outings before rejoining the Orioles, though it will depend on how his shoulder reacts to increased activity. O'Neill has two separate stints on the IL this season and a .188/.280/.325 slash line with two home runs and 10 RBI across 93 plate appearances.
Jun 4 2025O'Neill (shoulder) is likely to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk this weekend, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is with the Orioles in Seattle for their current series against the Mariners, and he's almost ready to take the final step in his recovery from a left shoulder impingement. Barring any setbacks, the veteran slugger should be able to rejoin Baltimore's outfield at some point during the middle of June. Despite slashing just .188/.280/.325 with two home runs, three doubles and 10 RBI across 93 plate appearances, O'Neill figures to play just about every day either as a corner outfielder or designated hitter once he's activated from the injured list.
May 28 2025O'Neill (shoulder) resumed baseball activities and is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been shelved since May 16 due to a left shoulder impingement but has been making progress in his recovery. The 30-year-old has begun doing baseball activities and is on track to return in early June, since he shouldn't require a lengthy rehab assignment.
May 18 2025The Orioles placed O'Neill on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a left shoulder impingement, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was scratched from the lineup for Friday's series opener versus Washington and will now be sidelined for at least the next week due to the shoulder issue. The injury doesn't seem to be a serious concern, but it's already the second time this season the oft-injured outfielder has ended up on the shelf. Dylan Carlson was called up to provide outfield depth for Baltimore, which is likely to rely on Heston Kjerstad more while O'Neill is out.
May 17 2025O'Neill (shoulder) isn't part of Baltimore's lineup for Saturday's game against Washington, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neil was scratched from Friday's lineup with discomfort in his left shoulder that stemmed from a session in the batting cage earlier this week, and he'll be idle once again Saturday. Ramon Laureano, Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad will fill the outfield from left to right.
May 16 2025O'Neill was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Nationals due to left shoulder discomfort, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old was activated last Friday after a two-week stay on the injured list due to neck inflammation, and he's now battling a shoulder issue. O'Neill had the discomfort surface while in the batting cage earlier this week and should be considered day-to-day.
May 14 2025O'Neill is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill returned from the injured list over the weekend following a two-week stay on the shelf due to neck inflammation, so the Orioles likely aren't keen on having him play two full nine-inning games on the same day just yet. He'll get a breather for the second contest of the day after he went 0-for-3 with a walk and contributed his first two stolen bases of the season in the Orioles' 6-3 loss in Game 1.
May 10 2025O'Neill is not in the Orioles' starting lineup against the Angels on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's game, and he finished that contest 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He'll be in the dugout for the start of Saturday's game while Heston Kjerstad, Cedric Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn man the outfield for the Orioles.
May 9 2025The Orioles reinstated O'Neill (neck) from the 10-day injured list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill missed roughly two weeks with neck inflammation. With O'Neill back from the IL, the Orioles optioned Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. In his first season with Baltimore, O'Neill is slashing a mediocre .215/.284/.385 with just two home runs, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and a 5:21 BB:K across 74 plate appearances.
May 7 2025Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that he's hopeful O'Neill (neck) will be available to return from the 10-day injured list for Baltimore's weekend series against Minnesota, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was working through neck soreness in late April, which prompted his placement on the 10-day injured list. He made his first rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with one walk while serving as the designated hitter. O'Neill will start in right field Wednesday and could be on his way back to the majors barring any setbacks. O'Neill was slashing .215/.284/.385 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 74 plate appearances prior to his placement on the IL.
May 6 2025O'Neill (neck) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was believed that O'Neill could avoid needing a rehab assignment, but he's now set for one as he tries to return from neck soreness. The outfielder was eligible to return from the 10-day injured list May 4. However, he will need two to three appearances in Triple-A before he is ready to return, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. The right-handed batter should be expected to return for the three-game series against the Angels that commences Friday.
May 2 2025O'Neill (neck) may not need a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 10-day injured list, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: General manager Mike Elias said Friday that O'Neill's return timeline from neck soreness is closer to "days" and not "weeks", so the outfielder seems to have a chance to be activated as soon as Sunday, when he's first eligible. While O'Neill is slashing only .215/.284/.385 with two home runs, three doubles and 10 RBI over 75 plate appearances this year, his elite 17.4 percent barrel rate suggests he's been a bit unlucky in the slugging department. Until O'Neill is cleared to return, Ramon Laureano should continue to play nearly an everyday role in Baltimore's outfield.
Apr 20 2025O'Neill is not in the starting lineup for Baltimore's matchup against Cincinnati on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill returned to the lineup Friday following a two-game absence due to a neck injury. He also started Saturday and went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI. O'Neill's absence from the starting nine Sunday appears to be a rest day. Ramon Laureano, Cedric Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn will form Baltimore's outfield from left to right.
Apr 18 2025O'Neill (neck) will start in right field and bat third in Friday's game against the Reds, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill missed the previous two contests with neck discomfort but will give it a go for Friday's series opener. The 29-year-old has collected an .829 OPS with two home runs in his first 14 games with the Orioles this season.
Apr 17 2025O'Neill (neck) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to neck discomfort and he will now miss a second straight start while Ryan O'Hearn mans right field. Consider O'Neill day-to-day.
Apr 16 2025O'Neill has been scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Guardians due to neck discomfort, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ramon Laureano will enter the lineup in left field and bat ninth, while Heston Kjerstad will shift over to right field. Consider O'Neill day-to-day.
Apr 7 2025O'Neill is out of the lineup for Monday's contest in Arizona, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a routine day of rest for O'Neill who is sporting a .954 OPS early on in his Orioles tenure. Baltimore is going with Ryan O'Hearn in right field, while Jordan Westburg gets a day at designated hitter and Ramon Urias handles third base.
Apr 5 2025O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill tallied multiple hits for the third time in eight starts this season, with his biggest contribution coming on a two-RBI triple in the seventh inning. He now has five total extra-base hits despite failing to go yard since Opening Day.
Mar 31 2025O'Neill went 4-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill knocked an RBI single and came around to score in the first inning. He later scored again during Baltimore's four-run eighth. Through four appearances this season, he's already produced two games with at least three hits. O'Neill has gone 8-for-14 (.571) with two extra-base hits and five runs scored.
Mar 29 2025O'Neill is out of the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is 3-for-6 with a homer and four RBI through Baltimore's first two games, but he'll take a seat Saturday to give Heston Kjerstad a chance to start in right field.
Mar 27 2025O'Neill went 3-for-3 with two walks, a three-run home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's 12-2 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With his three-run blast in the third inning off Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, O'Neill remarkably tallied an Opening Day home run in his sixth straight season. The veteran slugger should consistently hit in the heart of Baltimore's lineup in 2025, and he's off to a fast start during his first season with the Orioles after going 9-for-29 (.310) with one long ball and four RBI during spring training.
Mar 9 2025O'Neill (rib cage) is starting in left field and batting cleanup in Sunday's split-squad game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sat out the past couple days of Grapefruit League action due to left rib cage soreness, which came on the heels of an absence due to illness. The 29-year-old is still on track to be ready for Opening Day, but it's worth remembering that his 113 contests last season represented just the second time in his big-league career that the oft-injured outfielder has reached triple digits in games played.
Mar 8 2025O'Neill (rib cage) will go through a full workout Saturday and hopes to return to exhibition play Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill appears to be trending in a positive direction with his injury, which is something he says he would have played through if it were the regular season. Barring any setbacks, O'Neill should be just fine for Opening Day, though this rib cage issue should serve as a reminder of the injury baggage he carries with him at 29 years old.
Mar 6 2025O'Neill was scratched from the lineup ahead of Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus Pittsburgh due to left rib cage soreness. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill also missed a few days earlier this week due to an illness. The Orioles are saying his removal from Thursday's lineup was precautionary, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, so O'Neill should be able to return to game action within a few days. In the meantime, Colton Cowser will cover left field and bat fourth.
Mar 3 2025O'Neill (illness) will start in left field and bat third in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that O'Neill had been battling an illness, but the 29-year-old needed just a couple days off to move past the ailment. After signing a three-year deal with Baltimore in December, O'Neill is projected to serve as an everyday player while occupying a prominent spot in the lineup versus both right- and left-handed pitching.
Mar 2 2025O'Neill (illness) rejoined the Orioles in camp Sunday and is expected to play in Monday's spring game against the Red Sox, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill briefly stepped away from the team due to an illness but won't end up missing much time. The 29-year-old inked a three-year, $49.5 million contract with Baltimore in December and will be a key outfield piece after clubbing 31 homers for Boston last year.
Mar 1 2025Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that O'Neill is dealing with an illness, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill isn't expected to miss more than a day or two before returning. While he rests, Dylan Beavers will draw a start in left field Saturday against the Pirates.
Dec 7 2024O'Neill signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Orioles on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill enjoyed a resurgent campaign after moving to Boston in 2024, slashing .241/.336/.511 with 31 home runs and 61 RBI across 473 regular-season plate appearances. Much of the 29-year-old's success came versus southpaws, against whom he posted a 1.179 OPS in 156 trips to the plate. Now in Baltimore, O'Neill could slot in primarily at DH given his limited range and injury history while occasionally taking over in the corner outfield for Colton Cowser or Heston Kjerstad against left-handed starters.
Sep 29 2024O'Neill is out of the Red Sox's lineup Sunday against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox will start Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu in the outfield for the regular-season finale. O'Neill battled multiple injuries this season, and unless he pinch hits Sunday, he'll end his first year in Boston with a slash line of .241/.336/.511 with 31 home runs and 61 RBI across 473 plate appearances.
Sep 27 2024O'Neill is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been in and out of the lineup lately, making just two starts over the last six contests. He missed the first two of those tilts with a back injury, although it's not clear whether the back is a factor in his two other absences. Jarren Duran is in left field for the Red Sox on Friday.
Sep 24 2024O'Neill is absent from the lineup in Tuesday's game versus the Blue Jays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill returned to the lineup Monday at designated hitter after missing both ends of Sunday's doubleheader with a back issue. It's not clear whether it's his back that's keeping him out of Tuesday's lineup. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu will be in the corner outfield spots for the Red Sox.
Sep 23 2024O'Neill (back) will start at designated hitter and bat fourth in Monday's game versus the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sat out both ends of Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins due to a back injury, but he's feeling well enough to hit in Monday's contest. With O'Neill handling DH duties, Masataka Yoshida will receive a breather.
Sep 22 2024O'Neill (back) is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Twins, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox will give O'Neill both ends of the twin bill off as he deals with what manager Alex Cora described earlier Sunday as minor back tightness. Jarren Duran will occupy O'Neill's typical spot in left field for the second game of the doubleheader.
Sep 21 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had made 17 straight starts, likely making Saturday's absence from the starting nine nothing more than an off day. O'Neill is hitless in his last 15 at-bats, but he had homered six times in nine games before the slump. Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu fill the outfield from left to right.
Sep 15 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Sunday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's two-run blast was the culmination of a nine-pitch at-bat and represented the only runs the Red Sox would muster on the day. The homer was O'Neill's 31st of the season, the second time he's reached the 30-homer threshold in his career and leaving him just three shy of matching his career high that was set in 2021.
Sep 11 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, an additional RBI and a walk in a 5-3 extra-inning win against Baltimore on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was hitless until the 10th frame, when he belted a three-run blast off Keegan Akin to give the Red Sox a walk-off win. The long ball was the veteran outfielder's fifth in his past five games, and he's also collected nine RBI during that span. The hot stretch has elevated O'Neill's homer total to 30 on the season; it's the second time in his career reaching that mark and the first since 2021.
Sep 9 2024O'Neill went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs and an RBI groundout during Monday's 12-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill notched his second two-homer game in three days and his seventh multi-homer performance of 2024. The 29-year-old tagged Cade Povich and Cole Irvin for solo homers in the third and eighth innings, respectively, bringing his home run total to 29. He's now five long balls away from tying his career high, which was set back in 2021. O'Neill has a .894 OPS this year.
Sep 7 2024O'Neill went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three total runs scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added a solo shot in the fifth for his sixth multi-homer game of the year. He had been slumping at the plate, going 15 contests without a multi-hit effort entering Saturday, a span in which he hit just .143 (7-for-49), albeit with three homers. The outfielder is up to a .258/.350/.531 slash line with 27 long balls, 53 RBI, 67 runs scored and four stolen bases through 97 games this season.
Sep 1 2024O'Neill is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the past seven contests after missing a couple games due to finger inflammation, but his absence from Sunday's series finale is maintenance-related, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Rob Refsnyder will start in left field and bat third against Detroit opener Beau Brieske.
Aug 29 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 3-0 win over Toronto on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox led by the narrowest of margins at 1-0 before O'Neill provided some insurance with his two-run blast in the eighth inning. It was the outfielder's second homer over his past four contests, which followed a 10-game stretch sandwiched around a stint on the injured list during which he didn't leave the park and notched just one extra-base hit. O'Neill began the campaign looking like an MVP candidate but has had his season slowed considerably by injuries and a decline in performance. He's nonetheless been productive when healthy, recording a .258/.345/.524 slash line with 24 home runs, 49 RBI, 62 runs and three stolen bases through 90 games.
Aug 26 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-5 loss to Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill returned to duty after missing the last two games with inflammation in a finger. He struck out in his first three plate appearances before leading off the ninth with an opposite field shot that curled just inside the Pesky Pole in right field. The homer, which traveled all of 319 feet, was O'Neill's 23rd and first since coming off the injured list Aug. 17.
Aug 25 2024O'Neill (finger) will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had missed the first two games of the series versus the Diamondbacks due to left fourth finger inflammation, but O'Neill has shown enough improvement to take back a spot in the outfield in the finale. Rob Refsnyder will head back to the bench to reopen a spot in the lineup for O'Neill, who had gone hitless with seven strikeouts in 11 at-bats over his last three starts before missing time with the finger injury.
Aug 24 2024O'Neill (finger) isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Finger inflammation caused O'Neill to be scratched from the lineup prior to Friday's game, and he'll take another day off Saturday as he continues to recover. Rob Refsnyder will receive another start in right field and bat fifth.
Aug 23 2024O'Neill was scratched from the Red Sox lineup for Friday's game against Arizona with left fourth finger inflammation, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is dealing with finger swelling in his left hand and it's unclear how the injury came about. Still, the issue doesn't appear to be anything long-term and he can probably be considered day-to-day. Rob Refsnyder replaces him in left field and will bat fifth.
Aug 21 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After making his return to the Red Sox on Saturday following a two-week absence due to a lower leg infection, O'Neill started each of the past four games but went just 2-for-15 with two walks against eight strikeouts. O'Neill's spot in Boston's everyday lineup still appears to be secure, but he'll get a chance to regroup Wednesday while the Red Sox close out their series in Houston. Rob Refsnyder will replace O'Neill in left field and will bat fifth.
Aug 18 2024O'Neill started in left field and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill, who missed time due to a leg injury, was reinstated off the injured list and immediately back in the field. He'd been out since Aug. 2, first due to a stomach illness then the leg.
Aug 17 2024O'Neill (leg) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill wasn't initially expected to be made available for the weekend series against Baltimore after landing on the injured list with an infection in his lower leg. However, his has recovered faster than expected and will be available for Boston as the Red Sox make a final push towards the postseason. O'Neill is slashing .268/.357/.544 with 22 home runs and 45 RBI over 342 plate appearances this season.
Aug 16 2024O'Neill (illness) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Red Sox manager Alex Cora had said previously that it was unlikely O'Neill would return before the end of this week, but evidently the outfielder is coming along more quickly than anticipated. O'Neill hasn't played since Aug. 2 due to a leg infection but is with the Red Sox in Baltimore and has been ramping up his baseball activities.
Aug 14 2024O'Neill (lower leg) rejoined the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday but is not expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list before the end of this week, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is eligible for activation Wednesday, but he resumed baseball activities Tuesday after recovering from a lower leg infection and will need more time to build back up. He will travel with the team on its road trip which begins Thursday and could be activated next week in Houston if all goes well.
Aug 7 2024The Red Sox placed O'Neill (illness) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to an infection in his lower left leg, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old hasn't seen the field since Aug. 2 due to a stomach virus, but he'll now require a stint on the injured list due to a leg infection. O'Neill will be eligible to return during the middle of next week, and the Red Sox expect him to be available at that point.
Aug 6 2024O'Neill (illness) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Kansas City, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's an anticipated absence, as O'Neill will miss a fourth straight start as he battles a stomach virus. The hope is that he will be ready to return to action Wednesday. Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will patrol the outfield for Boston on Tuesday.
Aug 5 2024Manager Alex Cora said that O'Neill (illness) will be available off the bench Monday against the Royals but likely won't be back in the lineup until Wednesday's series finale, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been held out of the lineup for three consecutive games as he tends to a stomach virus. However, his health appears to be improving and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday. O'Neill has the sixth most home runs (22) among outfielders this season.
Aug 4 2024O'Neill (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will hit the bench for a second straight game, after he was away from the team for Saturday's 7-4 loss while battling a stomach virus. The 29-year-old is back with the team for Sunday's series finale and is expected to be available off the bench, per Sean McAdam of MassLive.com.
Aug 3 2024O'Neill is away from the team while dealing with an illness Saturday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is absent from the Red Sox lineup Saturday, which is now understood to be the result of him feeling under the weather. The 29-year-old is not at the ballpark with the team in Texas and it's unclear how long he could be sidelined. O'Neill can be considered to be day-to-day for the time being.
Jul 31 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a routine day off after he had started in each of the previous five contests. Rob Refsnyder and Wilyer Abreu will cover the corner-outfield spots for the Red Sox.
Jul 27 2024O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs, a two-run double and a walk in Saturday's 11-8 extra-inning loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's second homer was the 100th of his career. Remarkably, he's produced three multi-homer games over his last seven contests, going 14-for-30 (.467) with 12 RBI in that span. The outfielder is up to 22 long balls, 43 RBI, 56 runs scored, three stolen bases, 15 doubles and a .275/.361/.564 slash line through 75 games this season.
Jul 24 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Colorado, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill reached the 20-home run mark for the season with a pair of long balls in Tuesday's win over the Rockies, earning him a day of rest for the Wednesday afternoon tilt. With O'Neill on the bench, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will make up the Red Sox outfield from left to right.
Jul 23 2024O'Neill went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was his second multi-homer game in his last four contests. O'Neill is 10-for-23 (.435) over five games since the All-Star break, and it appears his power has returned to the form he displayed in April as well. The outfielder is up to 20 homers, 38 RBI, 54 runs scored, three stolen bases and a .267/.356/.535 slash line through 73 games this season.
Jul 21 2024O'Neill went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Saturday's extra-innings loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went hitless over his first three trips to the plate before launching a two-run, go-ahead home run in the seventh, along with another two-run shot in the 10th, which again put the Red Sox out in front. It marked the outfielder's second consecutive multi-hit game and his fifth overall in July. The long balls were also his first this month, during which he's batting .306 with seven RBI, nine runs and two stolen bases. On the downside, O'Neill has also struck out multiple times in four of his last five games.
Jul 19 2024O'Neill went 3-for-4 in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went just 3-for-27 over his last seven games before the All-Star break, though that came after he began July with three multi-hit efforts. The outfielder is now at a .260/.353/.496 slash line with 16 home runs, 31 RBI, 49 runs scored, three stolen bases and 12 doubles over 69 contests this season. O'Neill continues to hold down a starting role in Boston's outfield, though he has just seven homers over his last 50 games after beginning the year with nine long balls in 19 contests.
Jul 13 2024O'Neill isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game versus Kansas City, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a day to regroup after going 0-for-8 with six strikeouts over his last two contests. While he rests, Rob Refsnyder will fill the opening in left field and bat fifth.
Jul 6 2024O'Neill isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a day off Saturday after going 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout during Friday's victory. While he rests, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will start across Boston's outfield.
Jul 4 2024O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, a run, two RBI and two stolen bases in a 6-5 extra-innings win against Miami on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill accounted for three of Boston's eight total hits to record his third consecutive multi-hit effort. He came up big in extra frames, recording an RBI single in the 11th inning and adding the game-winning RBI on a double in the 12th. O'Neill also collected two thefts in the contest after notching just one steal (on one attempt) over his first 60 games of the season. Swiping bags probably won't become a trend for the outfielder moving forward, though it's worth noting that he stole 29 combined bases across the 2021 and 2022 campaigns while with St. Louis.
Jun 30 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old started the previous five contests but will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale after going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts through the first two games versus San Diego. Jarren Duran will shift to left field while Enmanuel Valdez takes O'Neill's spot in the lineup.
Jun 26 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk and a home run in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays -- his 16th long ball of the season -- but he will receive a day off Wednesday. Rob Refsnyder will get a start in left field for the Red Sox, who are looking to give O'Neill periodic maintenance after he returned from the injured list earlier this month and also missed three straight games with knee inflammation.
Jun 22 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will hit the bench after going 0-for-7 with two walks over the Red Sox's previous two contests, but he's been excellent overall since making his return from a three-game absence due to a knee issue earlier this month, slashing .273/.342/.697 since June 12. Even though he finds himself as the odd man out of the Boston outfield Saturday while the team brings Wilyer Abreu (ankle) back from the injured list, O'Neill should continue to handle a near-everyday role for the Red Sox.
Jun 19 2024O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run during Tuesday's 4-3 win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After swatting a pair of homers in the series opener against the Blue Jays, O'Neill homered again Tuesday, tagging Brendon Little for a game-tying solo shot in the eighth inning. O'Neill has generated multiple hits in four of his last five games, going 8-for-23 (.348) with four home runs, seven runs scored and seven RBI during that stretch.
Jun 17 2024O'Neill went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and a walk in Monday's win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hit two of Boston's four home runs Monday for his first multi-homer game since April 5. He's up to 14 long balls this season but just six of those have come since the start of May. The slugging outfielder is slashing .258/.354/.534 with 25 RBI through 206 plate appearances. O'Neill has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with five multi-hit performances in eight games this month.
Jun 16 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a breather after he went 5-for-18 with a home run and a double while starting each of the last four games following his return from a a three-game absence due to right knee inflammation. Rob Refsnyder will spell O'Neill in right field.
Jun 13 2024O'Neill went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in a 9-3 win over the Phillies on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill singled in the first inning then broke the game open in the fourth, crushing a three-run homer off Aaron Nola that traveled 430 feet over the Green Monster. After returning at DH from a knee injury Wednesday, O'Neill got the start in right field and hit his first home run since May 19. O'Neill endured a terrible May, hitting .151 with two home runs and five RBI over 73 at-bats but has opened June going 7-for-16 with a homer and five RBI in just five contests. Health has always been a concern for O'Neill, as he has eclipsed 100 games played in a season just once, but he is now slashing .256/.356/.512 with 12 home runs in 2024.
Jun 12 2024O'Neill (knee) will serve as Boston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hadn't played in any of the Red Sox's last three games due to right knee inflammation and looked to be at risk of a return to the 10-day injured list, but the 28-year-old was apparently able to show enough improvement over the last few days to avoid being deactivated again. Masataka Yoshida should settle in as the Red Sox's primary DH after returning from the IL on Tuesday, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday to facilitate O'Neill's return to the lineup. It's unclear when the Red Sox might be comfortable with having O'Neill make starts in the corner outfield.
Jun 11 2024O'Neill (knee) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will miss a third straight start after his right knee flared up on him again this past Friday. The good news is he's feeling much better and is hoping to be back in action Wednesday, per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Masataka Yoshida is at designated hitter Tuesday for the Red Sox, and the club will have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Rob Refsnyder in the outfield.
Jun 9 2024Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that O'Neill (knee) will remain out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale with the White Sox, but the Red Sox remain hopeful to have him back in the lineup for Tuesday's series opener in Philadelphia following an off day Monday, the Associated Press reports. "If we can take advantage of the next three days and avoid the [injured list], that's what we're gonna do," Cora said. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being on the IL previously with right knee inflammation, O'Neill was activated Wednesday. However, O'Neill made just three starts before he was removed in Friday's 7-2 loss to Chicago in the third inning after he had tweaked his knee while tracking down a flyball the inning prior. Though the Red Sox are seemingly optimistic that O'Neill will steer clear of another IL stint, he'll still need to demonstrate enough progress coming out of Monday's off day for that to become a reality. Bobby Dalbec started in right field in place of O'Neill in Saturday's 6-1 loss and could be the main beneficiary if O'Neill continues to miss more time beyond Sunday.
Jun 8 2024O'Neill (knee) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill left Friday's 7-2 loss to the White Sox in the third inning due to right knee discomfort. The 28-year-old recently came off the injured list due to inflammation in the same knee. O'Neill is slashing .250/.354/.500 with 11 home runs and 18 RBI over 181 plate appearances this season. Jarren Duran and Bobby Dalbec will start in the outfield corners Saturday, while Ceddanne Rafaela roams center and David Hamilton plays shortstop.
Jun 7 2024O'Neill was removed from Friday's game against the White Sox due to an apparent knee injury, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had been visibly bothered by his right knee for about an inning before eventually coming out of the game during the third frame. The 28-year-old outfielder recently spent time on the injured list due to inflammation in the same knee, so the Red Sox will surely take a close look at him and should provide an update on his status in the near future.
Jun 5 2024The Red Sox reinstated O'Neill (knee) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. He'll start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's series finale with Atlanta, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be back in action after spending the minimum 10 days on the shelf with right knee inflammation. Prior to being deactivated, O'Neill had been making most of his starts in left field or at designated hitter, but he could see regular action in right field for the foreseeable future after Wilyer Abreu (ankle) was placed on the IL on Tuesday.
Jun 4 2024O'Neill (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox remain optimistic that O'Neill will be ready for activation when first eligible Wednesday, but they've decided to give him a rehab game first. O'Neill has been out since late May due to right knee inflammation.
May 31 2024O'Neill (knee) said Friday that he expects to be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was given a cortisone injection to combat inflammation in his right knee and said the shot has helped a lot. It would appear he's likely to skip a rehab assignment and return when his 10 days are up. O'Neill has just a .545 OPS and 43.9 percent strikeout in May after collecting a 1.127 OPS and 24.4 percent strikeout rate in April.
May 30 2024Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that he's optimistic O'Neill's (knee) stay on the 10-day injured list will be a short one, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill landed on the IL on Wednesday with right knee inflammation, an injury that he had been playing with for a while. While Cora didn't exactly commit to O'Neill requiring just the minimum 10-day absence, it does not appear he will be out long. He's eligible for activation June 5. Rob Refsnyder appears most likely to soak up the bulk of the playing time at designated hitter while O'Neill is out, although the Red Sox have Connor Wong at DH and Reese McGuire at catcher Thursday versus the Tigers.
May 29 2024The Red Sox placed O'Neill on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to right knee inflammation, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been dealing with knee problems since leaving Sunday's game against the Brewers, and he traveled back to Boston on Tuesday to undergo imaging. The results of his tests seem to have only revealed inflammation, but his injury is still serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list. The outfielder's move to the IL is retroactive to Sunday, so he will be eligible to return beginning June 5. Until then, Enmanuel Valdez will come up from the minors to fill the open roster spot.
May 28 2024O'Neill has been sent back to Boston to receive imaging on his sore right knee, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated that it's more for peace of mind than a worry that O'Neill is dealing with a significant injury, but it's still not an encouraging development. O'Neill is missing a third straight start Tuesday, and it's safe to assume he won't play in the series finale in Baltimore on Wednesday, either. The Red Sox will begin a homestand Thursday versus the Tigers.
May 26 2024O'Neill (knee), who is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, is expected to remain on the bench for Monday's series opener in Baltimore before returning to the starting nine for Tuesday's game versus the Orioles, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox don't view O'Neill's sore right knee as a major concern and think he'll need to miss just two starts due to the issue before returning to the starting nine as either a designated hitter or corner outfielder. Garrett Cooper will enter the lineup in O'Neill's stead Sunday, occupying the DH spot and batting third.
May 25 2024O'Neill is receiving treatment for the right knee injury that forced him from Saturday's game versus the Brewers and is considered day-to-day, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill revealed that the knee has actually been bothering him for a while, and the injury didn't happen on a particular play Saturday. He conceded that it's probably affected his swing, and his nine strikeouts over his last three contests would seem to back up that assessment. O'Neill may sit out at least Sunday's game, but there's no talk just yet of him needing an injured list stint.
May 22 2024O'Neill is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is getting a routine day off after starting in the last five games and 13 of the previous 14 contests. Rob Refsnyder will serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter, with Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu covering the corner-outfield spots.
May 19 2024O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and three runs scored Sunday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill got the green light on a 3-0 pitch from Matthew Liberatore in the first inning and smashed it over the wall in left center for his 11th homer of the season, but just his second since April 27. He would go on to reach base a total of four times in five plate appearances, crossing the plate three times against his former club. In 37 games, O'Neill is slashing .263/.376/.556 with 11 homers, 17 RBI, 29 runs and a steal across 133 at-bats.
May 16 2024O'Neill isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a chance to regroup Thursday after striking out seven times across his last two games. Rob Refsnyder will take his place in left field and bat third.
May 13 2024O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk during Monday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's first-inning three-run blast provided all the scoring for the Red Sox on Monday. It was the first homer since April 27 for the slumping O'Neill, who hit .333 with nine homers over his first 19 games, but had gone just 7-for-44 (.159) with six walks and 22 strikeouts over the most recent 12 game homer-less stretch prior to Monday.
May 5 2024O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the previous eight games and will receive a day off after he posted a .924 OPS and 36.1 percent strikeout rate during that span. Rob Refsnyder will man left field against Minnesota righty Joe Ryan.
May 3 2024O'Neill went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and an RBI in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had a terrific first month in a Boston uniform and continues to outperform his career standards. The outfielder has a 1.096 OPS, second in MLB behind only Mookie Betts.
Apr 29 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill delivered a walk-off single after the Red Sox squandered a 4-0 lead. His blooper to left against an infield playing in plated Jarren Duran with the winning run. For O'Neil, who was 0-for-3 at the time, the single extended hit streak to seven games, during which he's 11-for-27 with three home runs, five RBI and six runs scored.
Apr 27 2024O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three runs scored in Saturday's win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill got the scoring started with a blast over the Green Monster in the bottom of the first inning. It was the first home run this season for the 28-year-old that wasn't a solo shot. O'Neill also added a double, a single and a walk. Only Mike Trout (10) has gone deep more times so far this season than the Red Sox outfielder.
Apr 25 2024O'Neill is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is getting a scheduled day off after starting in both of the last two games upon returning from the 7-day injured list for a concussion. Rob Refsnyder will get the call in left field and hit third Thursday while O'Neill rests.
Apr 24 2024O'Neill started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was back in the lineup after a stay on the injured list due to a concussion. The Red Sox are coping with injuries to several key players, which means O'Neill's bat should be in the starting nine most days going forward.
Apr 23 2024The Red Sox reinstated O'Neill (concussion) from the 7-day injured list, and he's batting third as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Guardians, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder will end up missing only the seven-day minimum after suffering a concussion in a collision with Rafael Devers (knee) last week. O'Neill has been one of the best hitters in baseball early in 2024 with seven homers and a 1.209 OPS in 61 plate appearances.
Apr 21 2024O'Neill (concussion) is expected to be activated from the 7-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game at Cleveland, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It appears the 27-year-old outfielder will spend the 7-day minimum on the concussion IL following his collision with Rafael Devers. O'Neill has been one of the best hitters in baseball early this season with seven homers and a 1.209 OPS in 15 games.
Apr 18 2024O'Neill (concussion) will travel with the Red Sox to Pittsburgh this weekend and hopes to be activated when first eligible Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill confirmed that he has a concussion as a result of his collision with Rafael Devers on Monday, but he's feeling better and is aiming for a minimum absence. It's too soon to count on that, of course, given the uncertain nature of concussions. O'Neill is third in baseball with seven home runs this season.
Apr 17 2024O'Neill (forehead) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians and is considered unlikely to be available for Thursday's series finale, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was removed from Monday's 6-0 loss to Cleveland after a collision in the outfield with teammate Rafael Devers and was fortunate to avoid a concussion, but he suffered a cut on his forehead and needed eight stitches to seal his wound. Though manager Alex Cora expressed confidence Tuesday that O'Neill would be ready to play by Thursday, the outfielder isn't yet taking part in baseball activities on the field, so the Red Sox are expected to play it safe with him for another day. On a positive note, O'Neill hasn't been shut down from physical activity entirely, as he's been able to work out on his own.
Apr 16 2024Red Sox manager Alex Cora said O'Neill (head) cleared the concussion protocol and will sit Tuesday and Wednesday against the Guardians before potentially rejoining the lineup Thursday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill received eight stitches above his left eye after a collision with Rafael Devers on Monday, but the outfielder thankfully avoided a concussion. O'Neill will take a couple days to recover from the incident but should return to action for the series finale versus Cleveland.
Apr 15 2024O'Neill received eight stitches above his left eye and will go through concussion protocol after exiting Monday's game versus the Guardians following a collision with Rafael Devers, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill received the brunt of the collision in the outfield, as the back of Devers' head met O'Neill's face. Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed hope after the game that O'Neill could avoid the injured list, but the team will know more after the outfielder is re-evaluated Tuesday.
Apr 14 2024O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a solo home run during Sunday's 5-4 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went back-to-back with Triston Casas in the first inning, launching his seventh home run of the campaign. He's now two long balls away from matching his 2023 total, which he accomplished over 72 games played. Among players averaging at least 3.1 plate appearances per game, O'Neill ranks second in slugging percentage (.761), trailing only Marcell Ozuna.
Apr 13 2024O'Neill is not in Saturday's lineup against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This will be O'Neill's third day off of the season. Wilyer Abreu draws into the lineup against righty Griffin Canning.
Apr 9 2024O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was responsible for the Red Sox's lone run in Tuesday's defeat with a 413-foot solo shot off Corbin Burnes in the first inning. O'Neill has now homered in back-to-back games, giving him a league-leading six long balls early in the campaign. The 28-year-old outfielder has gotten off to a tremendous start in Boston, going 11-for-32 with a 1.394 OPS in his first 10 games after struggling to a .231/.312/.403 slash line with just nine home runs in 238 plate appearances last season with the Cardinals.
Apr 7 2024O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Sunday's 12-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill and the Red Sox finished off a season-opening, 10-game road trip in style. The team clubbed five home runs Sunday and went 7-3 out west, and O'Neill launched his fifth homer of the trip, during which he batted .357 (10-for-28) and slugged .892. He was moved to third in the order, taking the spot that had belonged to Trevor Story (shoulder), who is unavailable for an undetermined amount of time.
Apr 6 2024O'Neill went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and three runs scored in Friday's win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill opened the game's scoring with a solo shot in the second inning and added an insurance run by going deep again in the ninth. The 28-year-old slugger is enjoying his first season with Boston; he's already knocked four homers with a 5:3 BB:K through seven games. Despite having only two multi-hit games to date, O'Neill is slashing .409/.536/.955.
Apr 3 2024O'Neill is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had started five of the first six contests for the Red Sox, but he'll take a seat Wednesday against right-hander Ross Stripling. Wilyer Abreu will replace O'Neill and right field and bat ninth.
Mar 31 2024O'Neill started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is off to a strong start with his new team, going 4-for-10 with three walks and two homers. After dealing with a calf injury that limited him to DH duties for the final two weeks of the Grapefruit League, O'Neill played the field -- two in right field and one in left -- in his first three starts of the season.
Mar 30 2024O'Neill isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's contest against Seattle, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has registered a hit in each of his first two games in a Red Sox uniform, and he'll catch a breather Saturday. Wilyer Abreu will fill in as Boston's right fielder while batting fifth.
Mar 28 2024O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs in Thursday's 6-4 Opening Day victory against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After six seasons with St. Louis, O'Neill started in right field and batted fifth in his Red Sox debut. The 28-year-old displayed both his power and his speed for his new team, swiping second base following a walk in the second inning and capping the scoring in the contest with an eighth-inning solo shot. O'Neill certainly has the skill set to be an impactful fantasy asset, but his health is a question mark -- over his final two seasons with the Cardinals, he played in just 168 of a possible 324 regular-season games.
Mar 26 2024O'Neill started in right field and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's exhibition game against Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This marked the first time O'Neill played in the outfield since March 14. He had been dealing with a calf issue that limited him to designated hitter prior to Monday. O'Neill told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that he's "fine now" and that the club was "just being careful." It's expected that he'll be an everyday component of the lineup, but there are variables to consider. That uncertainty stems from Ceddanne Rafaela making the team as the primary center fielder, which means manager Alex Cora will have to juggle O'Neill, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida at the corners and DH.
Mar 24 2024O'Neill started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in Saturday's spring game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill, who hasn't played the field since March 14 due to lingering issues with his calf, started at DH in his last three spring games. The Red Sox, however, expect him to be ready for full duty by Opening Day, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. O'Neill is 9-for-30 (.300) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI and seven runs scored over 11 spring games.
Mar 19 2024O'Neill (calf) is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth for the Red Sox in Tuesday's contest against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's left calf first tightened up on him nearly two weeks ago and he had to be scratched from the lineup this past Friday when it flared up on him again. However, he's feeling well enough to give it a go Tuesday at DH. The Red Sox will want O'Neill to show he can play the outfield before camp breaks, but it's not clear when he might be ready for that.
Mar 17 2024Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he's hopeful for O'Neill (calf) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday versus the Rays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cora acknowledged that if O'Neill isn't ready to play Tuesday, the outfielder's availability for the March 28 season opener versus the Mariners would start to become more of a question mark, but for now, the Red Sox are expecting him to be ready to go for the start of the campaign. If O'Neill doesn't make enough progress in his recovery from the sore left calf, the Red Sox would likely be able to open up everyday roles in the outfield for both Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela alongside Jarren Duran.
Mar 15 2024O'Neill was scratched from the Red Sox' Grapefruit League lineup Friday due to left calf tightness, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill just returned from a calf injury earlier this week and has evidently had it flare up on him again. He had been slated to serve as Boston's designated hitter Friday, but that slot will now be filled by Nick Yorke. It's not clear at this point whether this setback could jeopardize O'Neill's availability for Opening Day, but given his injury history, the team is likely to be very cautious with the 28-year-old.
Mar 12 2024O'Neill (calf) is starting in right field and batting fifth Tuesday against the Cardinals, Tyler Milliken of 985 The Sports Hub reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His return from calf tightness was delayed one more day than expected, but he'll end up missing less than a week. O'Neill is on track to be a regular in the middle of Boston's lineup this season. Injuries limited him to 168 games for the Cardinals over the last two seasons.
Mar 11 2024O'Neill (calf) is slated to rejoin the Red Sox's Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday versus the Cardinals, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had been expected to return to action Monday against the Pirates after missing a few days with left calf tightness, but the Red Sox elected to give him one more day off to heal. The 28-year-old is expected to see most of his starts in left field for Boston this season.
Mar 7 2024O'Neill won't travel with the Red Sox to the Dominican Republic this weekend for their exhibition games against the Rays due to a left calf injury, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globereports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hit a double and home run and stole a base in his last Grapefruit League game Tuesday but evidently developed some calf tightness either in that contest or during Wednesday's off day. The good news is the Red Sox believe he'll be ready to play when they return to Florida on Monday, so the club is seemingly acting cautiously by holding him out of games in the Dominican Republic.
Mar 5 2024O'Neill started in left field and went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, a home run, three RBI and two additional runs scored in Tuesday's spring game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is 4-for-14 with two extra-base hits and two steals over six Grapefruit League games. It looks like the Red Sox want him to be the primary left fielder. He's started in left field in all six games while Masataka Yoshida has served the designated hitter in five of those outings.
Feb 9 2024O'Neill is expected to see most of his playing time for the Red Sox this season in left field, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boston isn't giving up hope of Masataka Yoshida improving his outfield defense, but at the moment it sounds like most of his starts will be out of the designated hitter spot. The trickle-down effect means there's an opening in right field, where Wilyer Abreu looks like the favorite to start. Worth keeping in mind, however, is that the Red Sox have been connected to some free-agent outfielders, which would shake things up.
Jan 11 2024The Red Sox and O'Neill avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.85 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill surely didn't want to go to an arbitration hearing with his new team and now he won't have to. The outfielder has been plagued by injuries the last two seasons but is hoping a change of scenery in his walk year leads to a rebound.
Dec 8 2023The Cardinals traded O'Neill (foot) to the Red Sox on Friday in exchange for Nick Robertson and Victor Santos (undisclosed), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After trading Alex Verdugo to the Yankees on Tuesday, the Red Sox will now bring in O'Neill to fill their opening in the outfield. O'Neill slashed .231/.312/.403 with nine homers and 21 RBI across 266 plate appearances last season while battling a multitude of injuries. No updates have been provided regarding the foot injury that put an early end to O'Neill's season, but he's a safe bet to secure a starting spot in Boston's outfield once he's healthy.
Sep 17 2023O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a sprained right foot, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear when exactly O'Neill suffered the injury, but he was mired in a 1-for-18 slump over his previous five games. The 27-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated during the final week of the regular season, but the Cardinals could opt to hold him out with nothing of consequence to play for. Juan Yepez was recalled in a corresponding move, though it'll be Richie Palacios taking O'Neill's place in left field Sunday.
Sep 15 2023O'Neill is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals have been giving O'Neill regular off days down the stretch while he deals with a persistent knee issue. Richie Palacios will be in left field for this one.
Sep 11 2023O'Neill is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been given regular maintenance days to combat a nagging knee issue, as he'll be sitting Monday for the eight time across the Cardinals' last 20 contests. Lars Nootbaar will spell O'Neill in left field Monday while Tommy Edman gets a day out of the infield and covers center.
Sep 9 2023O'Neill isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Saturday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a day off Saturday despite being 8-for-21 with two home runs, five RBI and four runs scored since the beginning of September. Richie Palacios will step in as St. Louis' left fielder and bat eighth.
Sep 6 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup Wednesday at Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a stolen base, and two total runs scored in the Cardinals' win over the NL East leaders on Tuesday, but it'll be Lars Nootbaar, Tommy Edman and Jordan Walker starting across the outfield Wednesday versus tough right-hander Spencer Strider. Alec Burleson is filling the DH role.
Sep 3 2023O'Neill is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Pirates, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the first two games of the series and will receive Sunday off after going 2-for-8 with a double and a three-run homer. Richie Palacios, Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker will start from left to right in the outfield for St. Louis.
Sep 2 2023O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in a loss to the Pirates on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill gave the Cardinals an early lead with a three-run shot in the second inning, but Pittsburgh rallied late to take the win. The long ball the eighth in what has been another injury-plagued season for O'Neill, as he's missed over 70 games due to back and knee issues. The outfielder has largely struggled when he has been able to play, slashing .232/.315/.411 with 19 RBI, 24 runs, four steals and a 26.7 percent strikeout rate over 232 plate appearances.
Sep 1 2023O'Neill (knee) is starting in left field and batting sixth Friday against Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Left knee soreness kept O'Neill from playing Thursday, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Friday's series opener with the Pirates. O'Neill has been having a tough time at the plate recently, going just 2-for-18 with seven strikeouts across his last six games.
Aug 30 2023O'Neill is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Padres due to left knee discomfort, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has dealt with the knee issue off and on for the bulk of August. He's unavailable off the bench Wednesday, though it's unclear at this point whether O'Neill's absence might extend into the weekend. Richie Palacios will pick up the start in left field Wednesday in place of O'Neill.
Aug 28 2023O'Neill (knee) went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sat out with knee discomfort Sunday, but it was a minor enough issue for him to only miss one game. The outfielder played the full game in left field, which should alleviate concerns about the injury. He's up to four steals on the year while slashing .236/.323/.405 across 60 contests.
Aug 27 2023O'Neill was scratched from the lineup Sunday versus the Phillies due to left knee discomfort, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Richie Palacios will instead start in center field and bat eighth as the Cardinals close out their three-game weekend series at Philadelphia. The oft-injured O'Neill is presumably day-to-day.
Aug 23 2023O'Neill is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals are going with Alec Burleson in left field as they try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pirates. O'Neill went 1-for-7 with a double in the first two games of the series.
Aug 20 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the first three games of the series and went 4-for-9 with two doubles, a solo homer and three walks, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's finale. Alec Burleson will handle left field while Luken Baker serves as the designated hitter.
Aug 18 2023O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's hitting has been a bit spotty in August -- he's batting .182 over 14 games this month, but five of his eight hits in that span have been homers. The outfielder gave the Cardinals a seventh-inning spark in Thursday's loss. For the season, he's at a .235/.316/.406 slash line, seven homers, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, eight doubles and three stolen bases over 51 contests. He's still seeing a starting role in left field, though he could also work in tandem with Tommy Edman to cover center field while Lars Nootbaar (abdomen) and Dylan Carlson (oblique) are on the injured list.
Aug 16 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's streak of five consecutive starts will come to an end Wednesday as Alec Burleson replaces him in the left field. After slashing .306/.404/.571 in his first 14 games upon returning from the 60-day injured list July 20, O'Neill has fallen into a 3-for-24 rut at the plate over his subsequent eight games.
Aug 14 2023O'Neill went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's steal was his second since coming off the injured list in July, and his third of the season in as many attempts. The outfielder also logged his third multi-walk game of the season. He's scuffling a bit in August, batting .176 (6-for-34) with five walks over 11 contests this month. The slump has him down to a .238/.318/.400 slash line with six home runs, 15 RBI, 22 runs scored and eight doubles over 48 games this season.
Aug 12 2023O'Neill went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 12-8 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill contributed a fifth-inning homer to the Cardinals' failed comeback effort. After battling knee tightness earlier in the week, he's been in the lineup in left field for two straight games, and it's encouraging he played the full game Friday despite the early lopsided score. The outfielder is slashing .247/.318/.416 with six homers, 15 RBI, 20 runs scored and two stolen bases over 170 plate appearances this season.
Aug 10 2023O'Neill (knee) is back in the lineup Thursday versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been scratched the last two nights due to left knee tightness, but it looks like he'll be good to go in Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old is covering left field and bating fifth for the Cardinals against the Rays and right-hander Zack Littell.
Aug 9 2023Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said O'Neill (knee) could return to action Thursday versus the Rays, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was scratched from the lineup Tuesday and Wednesday due to left knee tightness, but it doesn't seem to be a serious concern. The 28-year-old outfielder has slashed .283/.387/.528 in 62 plate appearances since he returned July 20 from a multi-month absence for a back injury.
Aug 8 2023O'Neill was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against Tampa Bay due to left knee tightness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite participating in batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game, O'Neill's knee will keep him from playing against the Rays. His day-to-day status implies his injury likely isn't severe, and he'll be replaced by Alec Burleson in Tuesday's lineup.
Aug 5 2023O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill opened the scoring in the second inning, and the Cardinals never trailed in the game. This was his third homer in the last four games, and he's hit safely in eight straight, batting .367 (11-for-30) in the longer span. He continues to thrive in a starting role in left field since returning from a back injury. O'Neill is now at a .255/.327/.418 slash line with five homers, 13 RBI, 19 runs scored and two stolen bases through 43 contests overall.
Aug 3 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker are starting across the outfield as Alec Burleson takes at designated hitter. O'Neill homered both Tuesday and Wednesday, but the Cardinals did not break up their crowded outfield depth chart at the trade deadline and so there is going to continue to be a rotation of sorts down the stretch.
Aug 2 2023O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder gave St. Louis a bit of hope in the ninth inning by homering off Minnesota closer Jhoan Duran, but he got no help from his teammates. It's O'Neill's third home run of the year and first in 11 games since returning from his latest IL stint, but the 28-year-old has been productive over that stretch by slashing .316/.422/.500 with four doubles, a steal, five runs and five RBI.
Jul 28 2023O'Neill went 3-for-3 with a double in Thursday's 10-3 loss against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since returning from a two-month IL stint on July 20, O'Neill's gone 9-for-27 (.333) with four doubles and a .936 OPS. The 28-year-old outfielder has just two home runs this year, though he's maintained a regular starting role in the middle of St. Louis' lineup. After a slow start to the year, O'Neill is now slashing .252/.326/.370 with 16 runs scored and nine RBI across 132 plate appearances this season.
Jul 24 2023O'Neill isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is 3-for-13 with a double, a stolen base and five runs scored in four games since returning from the 60-day injured list. He'll get the night off Monday, allowing Dylan Carlson to draw the start in center field while Lars Nootbaar shifts to left.
Jul 21 2023O'Neill went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run scored in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill made his return from a stint on the 60-day injured list due to a back injury. He played the full game in left field, which is expected to be his short-term spot in the lineup as he gets back up to speed. Through 30 games this season, he has a .234/.301/.351 slash line with two home runs, one stolen base, six RBI and 13 runs scored. He's also striking out at a 33 percent rate -- he has some work to do with plate discipline.
Jul 20 2023St. Louis reinstated O'Neill (back) from the 60-day injured list Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been out since early May due to a lingering back injury and mostly struggled offensively on his latest minor-league rehab assignment, but he'll return as the Cardinals' primary left fielder, possibly so that he can be showcased to other teams ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. With O'Neill back in the fold and Jordan Walker locked into a regular role in right field, Lars Nootbaar is expected to serve as the Cardinals' primary center fielder until Tommy Edman (wrist) returns from the IL. Dylan Carlson and Alec Burleson are thus left as the odd men out in the outfield for the time being.
Jul 18 2023O'Neill (back) will be reinstated from the injured list Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was originally expected back from the IL on Monday, but the Cardinals are deciding to hold off on activating him until after Wednesday's bullpen game. O'Neill has slashed .231/.355/.269 across 31 plate appearances during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis, and he projects to see regular playing time in St. Louis' outfield upon his return.
Jul 17 2023O'Neill (back) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list Monday, but he's hopeful to be reinstated prior to Tuesday's game against the Marlins, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though the Cardinals opened up a spot on the 40-man roster earlier Monday by designating reliever Genesis Cabrera for assignment, O'Neill won't immediately fill the opening. O'Neill's delayed activation isn't the result of a setback in his recovery from the back issue that has kept him out since early May, however, as he rejoined the big club in St. Louis following an eight-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis. Assuming O'Neill is back in the fold Tuesday, he could be headed for a near-everyday role in the outfield while Tommy Edman (wrist) is on the shelf.
Jul 14 2023O'Neill (back) could come off the injured list next week, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is going to play seven innings in the field for Triple-A Memphis on Friday before slotting in at designated hitter Saturday and then returning to the field Sunday, at which point the team will evaluate his status. With Tommy Edman (wrist) on the shelf, there could be steady at-bats available to O'Neill once he is activated.
Jul 6 2023O'Neill (back) went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in his second rehab game Wednesday with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his rehab debut Tuesday, so Wednesday's stat line qualifies as an improvement. He's been serving only as Memphis' designated hitter thus far and will likely have to prove his health with some outfield action before the Cardinals consider activating him from the 60-day injured list. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since early May due to lingering back issues.
Jul 3 2023O'Neill (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will serve as Memphis' designated hitter Tuesday before eventually playing the outfield, provided he passes a variety of stress tests. The outfielder has been on the shelf since early May with a lingering back injury but finally began experiencing improvement following a pair of injections last month. O'Neill could return shortly after the All-Star break if all goes well.
Jun 27 2023O'Neill (back) said Tuesday that he's aiming to begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has finally turned the corner in his recovery from a lingering back injury and is now doing the full range of baseball activities. Assuming all continues to go well with his side work and there are no setbacks on the farm, the 28-year-old outfielder should be able to return to the Cardinals before the All-Star break. He's been on the shelf since early May.
Jun 16 2023O'Neill (back) was cleared to play catch Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has also been able to do light agility and running drills as he tries to finally get over the hump in his recovery from a lingering back injury. He went on the 10-day injured list May 5 and was transferred Friday to the 60-day injured list. The best-case target for his return to the Cardinals is early July.
Jun 11 2023O'Neill said Sunday that he sees "the light at the end of the tunnel" in his recovery from the lower back strain that has kept him on the injured list since early May, John Denton of MLB.com reports. "I'm on doctor's orders in terms of a core program and what that timetable looks like," O'Neill said. "Hopefully later this week, we can get into baseball activities and can ramp up from there." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, O'Neill is scheduled to be re-evaluated Thursday, at which time he could be cleared for baseball activities if his physician, Dr. Robert Watkins, is satisfied with how the outfielder has responded to the two injections he received June 1 to address his ailing back. O'Neill seems to have responded well to core-strengthening work over the past week and a half and noted that he's pain-free for the first time in months, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Given the length of his layoff from game action, O'Neill will probably need at least a handful of minor-league rehab contests to get his timing back at the plate, so he still may not be cleared to return from the 10-day injured list until late June in a best-case scenario.
Jun 2 2023Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that O'Neill (back) will be shut down for the next 10 days, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been in a stall with his recovery from a lingering lower back injury and further testing conducted this week offered "no new findings," per Marmol. The 27-year-old outfielder initially went on the injured list May 5 and can now probably be ruled out until at least late June.
May 29 2023Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that the organization is "at a standstill" with O'Neill's (back) recovery, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has had to be shut down on three different occasions due to continued lower-back pain. He tried hitting off a tee about a week ago but has halted activities since then because his back didn't respond. The outfielder should be considered out indefinitely as he and the Cards determine the next course of action.
May 24 2023O'Neill (back) took light swings off a tee Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has finally resumed some level of baseball-related activity following a shutdown period that lasted nearly three weeks. He still has a lot of hurdles to clear, but the 27-year-old outfielder might be ready to rejoin the Cardinals sometime in early June if all goes well within his ramp-up into more intense workouts. O'Neill landed on the injured list May 5 because of a lower back strain.
May 23 2023O'Neill (back) did not resume baseball activities Monday as hoped, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is still being bothered by discomfort in his lower back nearly three weeks after he originally landed on the injured list. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged Tuesday it's unclear where the 27-year-old outfielder stands with the injury. There is obviously no timetable for his return to the active roster at this point, and early June might now be the best-case scenario.
May 20 2023O'Neill (back) could resume baseball activities Monday and might be ready to make a rehab assignment late next week, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been out for over two weeks with a strained lower back. He had been scheduled to begin a rehab stint Thursday, but the assignment got called off as his back issues persisted. The team hopes he can get back on track at the start of next week, though that's not yet guaranteed. The longer he's out, the longer rehab assignment he'll need to get back in game shape.
May 18 2023O'Neill (back) is scheduled to meet with the Cardinals' medical staff Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, but he continues to be bothered by discomfort stemming from the lower-back strain he suffered in early May. Maybe the checkup with team doctors will yield a better idea on a timetable for his return.
May 17 2023O'Neill (back) will no longer begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had been slated to join up with one of the Cardinals' minor-league affiliates in the coming days, but manager Oliver Marmol told reporters Wednesday that the 27-year-old outfielder is not progressing as quickly as hoped in his recovery from a lower back strain. There is no longer a clear timetable for his return to the active roster in St. Louis. O'Neill has been on the IL since May 5.
May 15 2023O'Neill (back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals had previously identified Tuesday as the soonest O'Neill could begin playing rehab games. The new start date would seem to set him up for a possible return early next week as the team begins a road trip, although that hasn't been clarified. O'Neill has been out since May 4 with a lower-back strain.
May 9 2023Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters before Tuesday's game that O'Neill (back) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as next Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was placed on the injured list Friday with a lower back strain. The outfielder has slashed just .228/.283/.337 over 99 plate appearances in 2023 before the injury, but he should have a chance to start improving those numbers later in May if he doesn't suffer any setbacks.
May 5 2023O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a lower back strain, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Juan Yepez will join the Cardinals in a corresponding move to provide depth in the corner outfield. O'Neill, who's dealt with a range of different injuries throughout his pro career, was slashing just .228/.283/.337 with two home runs and one stolen base through 29 games (99 plate appearances) this season. He figures to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the active roster. There's no real timetable yet.
May 3 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has now sat out against three consecutive right-handed pitchers, signaling that he's likely moved into a short-side platoon role for the time being. Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson and Lars Nootbaar will form the St. Louis outfield from left to right Wednesday.
Apr 30 2023O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Saturday after being scratched from Friday's lineup with back tightness, and he'll head back to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson and Lars Nootbaar will start from left to right in the outfield.
Apr 29 2023O'Neill (back) is starting in left field and batting sixth Saturday against the Dodgers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was scratched from Friday's lineup with back tightness, but it's apparently a minor issue, as he is right back in for the matchup against Clayton Kershaw. O'Neill is hitting .258 with zero home runs and zero steals in his last 10 games.
Apr 28 2023O'Neill was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Dodgers with back tightness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was originally in the starting lineup for the Cardinals, but will take a seat while recovering. The outfielder should be considered day-to-day while Dylan Carlson gets the start in center in his place.
Apr 5 2023O'Neill's absence from the lineup Wednesday came after manager Oliver Marmol was critical of the outfielder's baserunning in Tuesday's game, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "There is a standard, and it's here," Marmol said Wednesday morning in his office, holding his left hand up to show the height of the standard. "You meet it, you play. You don't meet it, you don't play." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday night and the skipper clearly did not like the effort on the play. O'Neill pushed back on the idea that he was not giving it his full effort. This is not what fans or fantasy managers want to see this early on in the season, and while this could blow over quickly, Marmol would not commit to O'Neill being back in the lineup Friday, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat. Dylan Carlson got the nod in center field Wednesday.
Apr 2 2023O'Neill is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 2-for-8 with a two-run home run and a walk in the first two games of the season, but he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale versus Toronto. Dylan Carlson will man center field and bat eighth in his absence.
Mar 30 2023O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With his two-run shot off Alek Manoah in the third inning, O'Neill has now homered on four consecutive Opening Days, tying the major-league record per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. O'Neill was starting in center field -- making way for rookie Jordan Walker -- and batting sixth in the order. Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar occupied the top two spots in the starting lineup ahead of the team's two MVP finalists from a year ago.
Mar 16 2023Cardinals managers Oliver Marmol said O'Neill's strong play for Canada at the World Baseball Classic is a "reflection of the work he put in all offseason," John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was one of the best players in pool play, batting .615 (8-for-13) with two doubles, four RBI and five runs scored. The Cardinals have four players competing for three starting spots in the outfield, but Marmol's comments would suggest that O'Neill will get an everyday job out of the gate. Whether he plays in left field or center field remains to be seen -- he'll likely get time in both spots, especially since Lars Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson are also capable of playing in more than one outfield position.
Feb 21 2023O'Neill is competing with Dylan Carlson for the starting center fielder job with the Cardinals, manager Oliver Marmol told Katie Woo of The Athletic on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is slated to play center field for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and evidently the Cards will give him a long look there, as well. In all likelihood, it's going to be Carlson in center and O'Neill in left field on Opening Day, but the team is keeping its options open. Noticeably absent from the center field competition is Lars Nootbaar, who appears pegged for a corner outfield spot. Also worth noting is that O'Neill potentially playing some center field would seemingly create a clearer path in right field for Jordan Walker.
Jan 13 2023O'Neill agreed to a one-year, $4.95 million contract with the Cardinals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill had his 2022 salary decided by an arbiter after the two sides were unable to come to terms, but an agreement was reached for 2023 ahead of Friday's deadline. The 27-year-old had a .912 OPS in 2021 but took a step back last year while dealing with multiple injuries, and he finished with a .228/.308/.392 slash line and 14 home runs in 96 contests.
Oct 4 2022O'Neill (hamstring) hasn't made enough progress to be considered for the Cardinals' wild-card roster, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hasn't played since mid-September due to a strained hamstring, ending a disappointing regular season with a .228/.308/.392 slash line in 96 games. While he's made some progress in recent days, it won't be enough for him to return to action within a week, though he's yet to be officially ruled out for future rounds should the Cardinals advance.
Oct 3 2022O'Neill (hamstring) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list before the Cardinals' regular-season finale Wednesday in Pittsburgh, but manager Oliver Marmol said the outfielder could be included on the postseason roster, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though O'Neill isn't progressing quickly enough from his left hamstring strain to play in games, he's scheduled to hit on the field over each of the next three days, which should give the Cardinals a sense of whether he'll be ready to play during the wild-card round, which begins Friday. His absence has paved the way for Dylan Carlson to re-emerge as a regular in the St. Louis outfield.
Sep 30 2022O'Neill (hamstring) will advance to agility drills and angled running Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has missed the last two weeks with a strained left hamstring, but he's taking steps in the right direction. Reports from earlier in the week indicated that his availability for the playoffs was in doubt, so it may still be a stretch for him to return before the end of the regular season despite his progress.
Sep 28 2022Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak acknowledged Tuesday that he's uncertain whether O'Neill (hamstring) will return from the 10-day injured list during the team's upcoming postseason run, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. "I think there's a shot, but obviously the clock is ticking," Mozeliak said. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was expected to be in store for a brief stint on the IL after he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain Sept. 17, but Mozeliak's comments would seem to suggest the outfielder's return isn't imminent. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, O'Neill has been hitting in the cage this week and began linear running exercises Wednesday, but he likely won't return before the end of the regular season, and his playoff availability also remains in question. Dylan Carlson has settled in as the Cardinals' primary center fielder while O'Neill has been on the shelf.
Sep 17 2022O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sustained his hamstring injury while stealing a base Friday against the Reds and is optimistic that he's dealing with a Grade 1 strain, but he'll be examined further in the coming days, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Dylan Carlson should serve as the Cardinals' primary center fielder after he was reinstated from the injured list Saturday.
Sep 14 2022O'Neill isn't starting Wednesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the last four games and went 4-for-14 with a homer, two doubles, three runs, an RBI, a stolen base, three walks and five strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Lars Nootbaar starts in center field and bats ninth.
Sep 11 2022O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill delivered the Cardinals' margin of victory, going deep just two batters after Albert Pujols' 697th career homer put St. Louis ahead. The long ball was O'Neill's second in nine games in September, though he's batting just .233 (7-for-30) this month. That's in line with his season average of .228, and he's added a .700 OPS, 14 homers, 12 stolen bases, 58 RBI, 53 runs scored, 10 doubles and a triple through 92 contests.
Sep 9 2022O'Neill (neck) went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base in Friday's 8-2 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill missed one game with neck stiffness. He was the most productive Cardinal batter in the contest, getting aboard a team-high three times. He's had a bit of a rough start to September, going 5-for-22 (.227) over his last seven games, though he's added a home run, two steals, four RBI and four runs scored to offset the batting slump. O'Neill is slashing .227/.306/.385 with 12 steals, 13 homers, 57 RBI and 51 runs scored through 90 contests overall.
Sep 8 2022O'Neill was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Nationals due to neck stiffness, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was removed from the Cardinals' lineup shortly after it was released, and he's apparently dealing with a neck issue. Manager Oliver Marmol said the outfielder is receiving treatment, but the Cardinals' skipper didn't sound too concerned about the issue. O'Neill should be considered day-to-day for now.
Sep 3 2022O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's been more effective overall lately, going 10-for-38 (.263) with six long balls, two stolen bases, 15 RBI and 12 runs scored in his last 11 games. His homer Saturday put the Cardinals ahead as part of a six-run rally in the third inning. The outfielder is up to a .231/.307/.396 slash line with 13 homers, 56 RBI, 50 runs scored and 11 steals through 85 contests, with the recent hot hitting securing him in an everyday role.
Sep 2 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 8-0 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first inning. He got aboard with another single in the sixth and stole second before scoring on a Corey Dickerson single. O'Neill has steals in each of his last two games, giving him 11 in 15 attempts for the season. With an uptick in speed and an everyday role, he's starting to play in a way reminiscent of his breakout campaign last year. Still, the outfielder has a .231/.306/.388 slash line with 12 home runs, 55 RBI, 48 runs scored, nine doubles and a triple through 340 plate appearances in 2022.
Aug 31 2022O'Neill went 0-for-4 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 extra-innings win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was held without a hit for the fourth time in his last seven games, but he was still fairly productive. In that span, he's gone 4-for-22 with seven walks, a steal, four home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored. The outfielder is seeing steady playing time lately, though his season slash line of .227/.304/.386 through 83 games is still rather subpar. His steal Wednesday was his 10th of the year in 14 attempts.
Aug 29 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Monday's 13-4 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill opened the game's scoring with a solo shot in the second inning and later drilled a two-run homer in the sixth. He's gone deep five times over the last seven games, giving him 12 home runs through 81 games. The 27-year-old outfielder is now slashing .233/.307/.397 with 53 RBI and 46 runs scored across 326 plate appearances.
Aug 28 2022O'Neill hit a three-run home run in his only at-bat in Sunday's 6-3 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill didn't start the game, but he entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. He made an impact in his lone at-bat, hitting a go-ahead blast that accounted for the winning run in the eighth. The outfielder's gone yard three times in his last six games, adding nine RBI and four runs scored in that span. For the season, he's slashing .230/.302/.375 with 10 homers, 50 RBI, 43 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 321 plate appearances.
Aug 26 2022O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 11-4 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's homer came in the ninth inning with the Cardinals down 10 runs, so it had little impact on the game. He's still gone yard in two of his last four games, driving in five runs in that span. The outfielder is up to nine long balls, 46 RBI, 41 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 78 contests.
Aug 23 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in the Cardinals' Game 2 win over Cubs in Tuesday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill took Adrian Sampson deep for a two-run blast in the top of the fourth inning before he walked and scored in the ninth frame. He also notched a single earlier in the contest and he's now up to eight homers on the season. The outfielder has now produced five multi-hit efforts over his last eight games, batting .324 with two home runs, five RBI, seven runs and a stolen base over that stretch.
Aug 20 2022O'Neill went 2-for-6 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 16-7 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill doubled, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. The outfielder has racked up four multi-hit efforts in his last five starts, but his steal Saturday was his first since July 29. Through 288 plate appearances, the 27-year-old is slashing .230/.299/.355 with seven home runs, nine steals, 41 RBI, 38 runs scored, nine doubles and a triple. His strong defense should keep him in the lineup on a near-everyday basis in left field.
Aug 17 2022O'Neill isn't starting Wednesday against Colorado, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is getting a breather after he went 4-for-7 with a homer, three runs and two RBI over the last two games. Corey Dickerson will take over in left field and bat sixth.
Aug 15 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Albert Pujols launched a solo home run in the second inning, O'Neill hit one of his own in the sixth inning and tied the game at two runs apiece. It was O'Neill's second homer of the month, his first since Aug. 4, and his seventh of the season. The outfielder had gone hitless in his previous three games, striking out six times during that span. He has a .167 batting average for the month thanks to going 6-for-36 with 12 strikeouts. Across 11 games this month, O'Neill's batting average has dropped from .232 to .223.
Aug 13 2022O'Neill isn't starting Saturday against Milwaukee, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is taking a seat after he went 1-for-16 with a double, a run, an RBI, a walk and seven strikeouts over the last four games. Brendan Donovan will start in left field and bat second.
Aug 5 2022O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in a 7-2 win over the Cubs in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was rested for the matinee after missing two games earlier in the week due to leg cramps. He was back in left field for the nightcap, and he delivered the game-winning hit in the seventh inning, a three-run blast off Cubs reliever Kervin Castro. In his last nine games, O'Neill has struggled, going 6-for-30 (.200) with two homers, eight RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. The outfielder is slashing .233/.300/.364 with eight steals, six homers, 36 RBI and 30 runs scored through 57 contests overall.
Aug 4 2022O'Neill isn't in the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was slated to start Wednesday against the Cubs before the game was postponed, but he'll ultimately sit out the first game of Thursday's twin bill. It's not yet clear whether he's still dealing with cramping in his leg or whether he'll start the nightcap.
Aug 3 2022O'Neill (leg) is starting Wednesday against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill missed the last two games due to cramping in his leg, but he'll start in left field and bat fifth Wednesday. Over his last five games, he's gone 2-for-17 with a double, three runs, a stolen base, three walks and six strikeouts.
Aug 2 2022O'Neill (leg) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sat out Sunday after leaving Saturday's game with cramping, and he will remain on the bench despite a team off day Monday. Lars Nootbaar will take O'Neill's place in the Cardinals' outfield.
Jul 31 2022O'Neill (leg) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was removed from Saturday's contest due to leg cramps and won't be in the lineup for the series finale versus the Nationals. Corey Dickerson will start in left field and bat eighth Sunday for St. Louis.
Jul 30 2022O'Neill exited Saturday's game against the Nationals due to leg cramps, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill exited in the fifth inning, with Corey Dickerson taking over in left field. The injury doesn't appear to be particularly serious, though it's possible that the Cardinals opt to sit O'Neill on Sunday as the team has no game scheduled Monday.
Jul 29 2022O'Neill went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his last four games, O'Neill has gone 0-for-15, though he's drawn three walks and scored three runs in that span. The outfielder's slump at the plate has dropped his slash line to .225/.292/.340 with five home runs, 33 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight steals in 54 contests this season. With Harrison Bader (foot) and Juan Yepez (forearm) still sidelined for a minimum of a week more and likely longer, O'Neill's playing time is fairly safe. Corey Dickerson will likely be his top competition in the short term.
Jul 24 2022O'Neill went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has hit safely in four of five games since returning from the injured list, though his homer Saturday was his first extra-base hit in that span. He's slashing .243/.303/.368 with five long balls, seven steals, 33 RBI and 26 runs scored through 50 contests. Injuries have limited the 27-year-old this year, but he should continue to serve as the Cardinals' top left fielder when healthy.
Jul 22 2022O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored Friday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill delivered a two-RBI single in the second inning to give St. Louis a short-lived lead. In four starts since returning from the injured list, O'Neill has collected three hits across 14 at-bats with no extra-base hits. For the season, he has maintained a .239/.300/.350 line across 203 plate appearances.
Jul 14 2022O'Neill (hamstring/wrist) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will start in left field and bat sixth Thursday against the Dodgers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been sidelined past few weeks by hamstring and wrist injuries, but he's back in the lineup for Thursday's series finale versus Los Angeles. The 27-year-old had a slow start to the season, but he posted a .905 OPS through 13 games in June before landing on the injured list.
Jul 13 2022O'Neill (hamstring) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals hoped that O'Neill would be able to rejoin the team as early as Wednesday, but he'll spend at least one more day on the IL as a precautionary measure. It's possible that he'll be back in action for Thursday's series finale against the Dodgers.
Jul 12 2022O'Neill (hamstring) said his bruised right wrist checked out fine following a full workout Monday, potentially putting him on track to come off the 10-day injured list as soon as Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has received full medical clearance from the wrist injury as well as the left hamstring strain that initially forced him to the IL on June 20, but the Cardinals may want to see him play in at least one more rehab game in the minors before activating him. Whether he comes off the IL on Wednesday or later in the week, O'Neill should take back a full-time role in left field upon his return to the lineup.
Jul 11 2022O'Neill (hamstring/wrist) will take full batting practice and participate in throwing drills Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been on the injured list since June 20 with a left hamstring strain, but it was a small tear as well as bruising to his left wrist that resulted in him being pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis a few days ago. Fortunately, O'Neill's ability to resume workouts less than a week later suggests he won't be in store for an extended absence. The Cardinals may want to send him back to Triple-A for another rehab game or two before activating him from the IL, but O'Neill at least looks like he has an outside shot at making it back prior to the All-Star break.
Jul 8 2022O'Neill (hamstring) sustained a left wrist contusion when he was hit by a pitch during a rehab game Wednesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill underwent testing that didn't reveal a fracture in his wrist, but he's dealing with some swelling. He was initially targeting a Friday return but will now be re-evaluated over the weekend. It's not yet clear whether the 27-year-old will be able to return during the Cardinals' weekend series against the Phillies.
Jul 7 2022O'Neill (hamstring) could be reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener against the Phillies, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill reported to Triple-A Memphis this week for a rehab assignment and appears set to rejoin the Cardinals after going 3-for-7 with a double and an RBI in two games. The 27-year-old landed on the shelf with a hamstring strain June 20, so it's not a major surprise he won't require a significant rehab stint before being activated.
Jul 3 2022O'Neill (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will serve as Memphis' designated hitter Monday and then advance to playing in left field Wednesday and Thursday. If all goes to plan, he could be back with the Cardinals as soon as Friday when they start a three-game series versus the Phillies.
Jun 28 2022O'Neill (hamstring) could begin a rehab assignment next Monday or Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was slated to be evaluated early this week to determine if he was ready for a rehab assignment, and this report suggests he wasn't quite ready upon evaluation. Given this timeline, it seems like O'Neill could be activated next weekend if all goes well. Lars Nootbaar has emerged as a semi-regular option for St. Louis with Harrison Bader (foot) also on the injured list.
Jun 24 2022Manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that O'Neill (hamstring) will be evaluated early next week to determine whether he's ready to begin a rehab assignment, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring injury Monday, and it's encouraging that he's already being considered to begin a rehab assignment. If he's cleared to report to a minor-league affiliate next week, it's possible that he could return from the IL when first eligible.
Jun 20 2022O'Neill (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill tweaked his hamstring during Sunday's game against the Red Sox and will be forced to miss at least a week and a half due to the injury. Juan Yepez should see increased playing time in O'Neill's absence, while Lars Nootbaar was recalled by the Cardinals on Monday.
Jun 19 2022O'Neill was removed in the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Red Sox due to left hamstring tightness, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base on the afternoon, suffered the injury while he was running to second base on his sixth double of the season. If the hamstring issue is significant enough to force O'Neill to the 10-day injured list, Juan Yepez would likely be the top candidate to replace him in St. Louis' everyday lineup.
Jun 18 2022O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and three total runs in an 11-2 win against Boston on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill recorded his second three-hit effort of the campaign, and he swatted his fourth homer on a solo shot in the sixth inning. The outfielder had been 0-for-9 over his previous three games but has been strong overall since returning from the injured list June 7, batting .318 (14-for-44) with two homers, eight RBI and two stolen bases. O'Neill was hitting .195 prior to his stint on the IL but has boosted his average to .228 with the strong stretch since.
Jun 14 2022O'Neill is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 1-for-3 with walk during Game 1 and is now hitting .355 in eight games since returning from the injured list, but he'll receive a breather for Tuesday's nightcap. Juan Yepez will move out to left field while Albert Pujols serves as the designated hitter.
Jun 13 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has attempted a stolen base in each of the last three games, and he's had success twice in that span. This was also his fourth multi-hit game in seven contests since he returned from a shoulder injury. The outfielder is up to a .226/.276/.336 slash line with three home runs, 26 RBI, 18 runs scored and five steals across 163 plate appearances overall.
Jun 12 2022O'Neill went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill reached on a fielder's choice in the third inning, stole second and scored on a Nolan Arenado home run. This was O'Neill's first successful steal in his last three tries. He's now hit safely in five of six games since returning from a shoulder injury, going 8-for-24 (.333) in that stretch. He's slashing .218/.270/.331 with three home runs, four steals, 26 RBI and 17 runs scored through 38 contests overall.
Jun 8 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI on Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill provided all of the Cardinals' offense on Wednesday. That began with a solo home in the fourth frame, his third long ball of the season. He added a two-RBI single in the sixth inning. It's an extremely small sample, though O'Neill has recorded multiple hits in each of his two starts since returning from a stint on the injured list caused by a shoulder injury. He's still hitting just .213/.268/.331 across 142 plate appearances.
Jun 7 2022O'Neill (shoulder) went 2-for-5 with three strikeouts in a 4-2 loss Tuesday in Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After striking out in his first two at-bats, O'Neill singled in his next two. It was his first big-league game since May 17 after spending time on the injured-list with a shoulder injury. With a .562 OPS and 45 strikeouts in 138 plate appearances, the 26-year-old is looks to bounce back and return to the level of his breakout 2021 season where he posted a .912 OPS and 34 homers.
Jun 5 2022O'Neill (shoulder) has made enough progress during his rehab assignment that he could be activated during the first series of the week in Tampa Bay, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just a day ago, it seemed that a return against the Rays was unlikely, but O'Neill had three hits Friday and the game-winning home run Saturday, so the Cardinals may activate him sooner than expected. Corey Dickerson landed on the injured list Sunday with a calf strain, so the Cardinals' outfield depth is getting tested.
Jun 4 2022O'Neill (shoulder) is unlikely to be activated until next weekend's series against the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He and Dylan Carlson (hamstring) each slotted in at designated hitter Friday in rehab games and will progress to playing the outfield this weekend. O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts in his first rehab game. Manager Oliver Marmol said he doubted that either O'Neill or Carlson would be ready to join the team in Tampa Bay for the series that runs Tuesday through Thursday of next week.
Jun 2 2022O'Neill (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Memphis on Friday to begin a rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was originally expected to begin the rehab stint early this week, but the cortisone injection he received last Friday delayed it a few days. O'Neill will serve as the designated hitter in his first appearance with Memphis and should work back into the outfield in the days that follow.
May 31 2022O'Neill (shoulder) has been slightly delayed but may be able to begin a rehab assignment Friday or Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The delay follows O'Neill's visit to a doctor Tuesday. He's been out for two weeks with a sore right shoulder and will likely miss at least one more, but he could return sometime early next week if he begins his rehab on schedule and only needs to play in a couple games.
May 30 2022O'Neill (shoulder) will visit a doctor Tuesday, at which point he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has already missed the required 10 days with a right shoulder impingement, but his return doesn't seem to be quite imminent. He received a cortisone shot Friday, however, and if the doctor confirms that he's healing as expected, he'll be ready for game action soon. He probably won't need too many rehab games given that he's been out for less than two weeks.
May 27 2022O'Neill (shoulder) received a cortisone shot Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hit the injured list late last week with a shoulder impingement. Tests revealed this week that he's also dealing with some fluid buildup. If the cortisone shot has its desired effect, he could embark on a rehab stint as soon as early next week.
May 26 2022Manager Oliver Marmol said he hopes O'Neill (shoulder) will be ready to start a minor-league rehab assignment early next week, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old landed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement last week, but it appears he's already on the cusp of a rehab assignment. The rehab assignment could also be a way for O'Neil to get in some extra plate appearances given his .195/.256/.297 slash line this year.
May 19 2022O'Neill (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is dealing with a right shoulder impingement and will have at least a week and a half to recover. Nolan Gorman's contract was selected as part of a corresponding move, and he should see playing time at second base while Tommy Edman shifts to shortstop. While O'Neill is unavailable, Brendan Donovan, Juan Yepez and Corey Dickerson should be in the mix for playing time in left field.
May 18 2022O'Neill isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started in the last two games and went 2-for-9 with an RBI and six strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Corey Dickerson starts in left field and bats fifth.
May 15 2022O'Neill is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is 2-for-20 with nine strikeouts over his past six contests, and he finds himself on the bench for the second consecutive game. According to Jones, the two straight off days are by design as the 26-year-old consulted with the coaching staff and is attempting to work on his swing. Juan Yepez will move to left field Sunday while Albert Pujols serves as the designated hitter.
May 14 2022O'Neill isn't starting Saturday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has gone just 1-for-12 with five strikeouts over his last three games, and he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last six matchups. Corey Dickerson will take over in left field and bat fifth.
May 11 2022O'Neill isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is out of the lineup for the second time in the last three matchups after he went 1-for-12 with a run, a walk and seven strikeouts over his last three games. Juan Yepez will start in left field and bat fourth.
May 8 2022O'Neill is not in the lineup Sunday against the Giants, John Denton of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the past 14 contests and will take a seat after striking out seven times over his past three games. Juan Yepez will man left field with Albert Pujols batting cleanup as the designated hitter.
May 4 2022O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a walk, three RBI and two runs during Wednesday's 10-0 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old homered and drove in five runs Opening Day, but entering Wednesday's contest he hadn't gone deep in the past 21 games and had a .446 OPS during that stretch. O'Neill finally busted out in Kansas City but still has plenty of work to do with a .202/.276/.333 slash line through 23 games.
Apr 26 2022O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Max Scherzer and Miles Mikolas put on a pitching duel for most of the game. O'Neill was able to open the scoring in the eighth with a two-run single off Trevor May, but the Mets rallied for the win in the ninth. O'Neill's been solid from a run-production standpoint with 10 RBI and eight runs scored through 14 contests. He's added a home run, two doubles and two stolen bases while posting a .216/.300/.314 slash line.
Apr 25 2022O'Neill went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill knocked in the Cardinals' lone run in the sixth inning with his RBI double. He also drew a walk and stole second in the eighth. O'Neill has struggled a big at the plate so far -- he was hitless in his previous 12 at-bats entering Sunday. The outfielder is slashing .213/.304/.319 with one home run, two doubles, eight RBI, eight runs scored and a pair of stolen bases through 13 contests. He's still penciled into a regular role in the No. 3 spot in the order when he's in the lineup.
Apr 23 2022O'Neill is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds, according to John Denton of MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went hitless in 12 at-bats over his last three games, so he will get a day off Saturday for the first time this season. Lars Nootbaar will take O'Neill's place in left field, and Dylan Carlson will occupy the third spot in the batting order.
Apr 19 2022O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run and a stolen base during Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill delivered an RBI single during the third inning to give St. Louis a 3-0 lead, and he walked and stole second base in his next plate appearance. The 26-year-old stole 15 bases in 19 attempts last year and is now on the board with his first theft of 2022. O'Neill hasn't homered since Opening Day but still has a solid .281/.359/.406 slash line to go with seven RBI.
Apr 15 2022O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in a 10-1 win Friday in Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill got the scoring started when he doubled with two outs in the first inning and later scored as part of a four-run, two-out rally. The three-hit performance snapped a 1-for-14 slump over the last four games. It was his first extra-base hit since an Opening Day homer. The 26-year-old put it all together for the first time last year at the major-league level and should continue to be a force in the Cardinals' lineup as the season progresses.
Apr 7 2022O'Neill went 2-for-3 with five RBI and one run in Thursday's win over the Pirates. He struck out once and walked once. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill broke out in 2021, slashing .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 138 games. The 26-year-old slugger picked up where he left off last season and will likely be a key piece of the Cardinals' lineup in 2022, though he's still expected to be a heavy strikeout candidate.
Oct 1 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a double, two solo home runs, an additional run and a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill crushed solo home runs in the first and fourth innings off Chicago starter Cory Abbott, doubled and scored in the sixth and stole second after reaching on an error in the eighth. He's one of just five players in MLB this season with at least 34 home runs and 15 steals and has been scorching since the beginning of September with a .319/.366/.726 line featuring seven doubles and 13 long balls.
Sep 29 2021O'Neill isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill recorded multi-hit performances in three of the last four games, but he'll get a breather after the Cardinals clinched a postseason spot Tuesday. Lars Nootbaar will start in left field and lead off.
Sep 26 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going yard in both halves of Friday's twin bill, O'Neill kept right on slugging by taking Adrian Sampson deep in the fourth inning Saturday. The 26-year-old is up to 32 homers on the year, including 11 in September alone, and his big month has pushed his slash line on the season to .279/.348/.546.
Sep 24 2021O'Neill went 3-for-9 with a pair of home runs, five RBI and three runs scored as the Cardinals swept Friday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old reached the 30-homer mark in the matinee with a two-run blast in the fifth inning. O'Neill didn't stay on the milestone mark for long, adding his 31st long ball in the second inning of the nightcap. The outfielder has enjoyed a breakout campaign with a .280/.348/.542 slash line, 75 RBI, 83 runs scored and 13 stolen bases through 508 plate appearances. He should continue to see near-everyday work in left field while typically batting third in the order.
Sep 22 2021O'Neill went 2-for-5 with a double, a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After seeing his nine-game hit streak snapped by the Brewers on Tuesday, O'Neill wasted no time in getting started on a new run Wednesday night. The Canadian slugger took Milwaukee starter Brett Anderson deep in the first inning for a two-run shot that got the Cardinals on the board. He followed that up in the second with an RBI double. This latest outburst serves to further what has been a stellar September for the Cardinals' outfielder. He is now hitting .325 with eight home runs and 20 RBI since the end of August.
Sep 20 2021O'Neill went 1-for-2 with an RBI single, two walks, a stolen base and three runs in a win over the Padres on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Less than 24 hours after blasting a go-ahead two-run home run, O'Neill flashed the small ball part of his game Sunday while serving as a thorn in the side of Padres pitching throughout the afternoon. The versatile slugger extended his hitting streak to eight games with Sunday's box-score-stuffing performance, pushing his season slash line to an outstanding .282/.353/.536 and bumping his increasingly impressive steals tally to 13 across 17 attempts.
Sep 19 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill slammed a two-run homer off Emilio Pagan in the eighth inning to give the Cardinals the lead. He has homered in back-to-back games and three of the last four. In his past 13 games, he has six long balls, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored. The 26-year-old is slashing .281/.350/.536 with 28 homers, 65 RBI, 73 runs and 12 steals in 427 plate appearances this season.
Sep 18 2021O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in an 8-2 victory versus San Diego on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugger helped St. Louis get off to a fast start, belting a two-run homer to left field in the first inning. The long ball was the 27th in what has been a breakout campaign for O'Neill, who entered the year with 21 combined homers over parts of three seasons. He has been very productive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers down the stretch, slashing .340/.407/.736 with six home runs, 13 RBI, 14 runs and two stolen bases over his past 14 contests.
Sep 14 2021O'Neill went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs in Tuesday's victory over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder notched an RBI single off of Marcus Stroman in the fourth inning, driving in teammate Paul Goldschmidt. He later took reliever Jeurys Familia deep for a two-run shot in the eighth inning, scoring Goldschmidt again. In the month of September, he has batted .327 with five home runs and nine RBI in 14 games.
Sep 7 2021O'Neill went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was one of the few bright spot for the team, offensively; the rest of the team combined for five hits. After a few years toiling as a part-time player, O'Neill has blossomed this season with regular playing time. He's one of just 16 players with 20-plus homers and at least 11 steals this season.
Sep 5 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill ripped a massive 455-foot, two-run shot in the seventh inning, his 23rd homer of the year. It was just his second home run in the last 15 games but he's sporting a .289 average with seven RBI during that span. The 26-year-old outfielder is up to 44 extra-base hits with 62 runs scored this season.
Sep 4 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Friday's 15-4 blowout of the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals hit six homers in the contest, with O'Neill's seventh-inning two-run shot traveling the farthest at 409 feet. He also struck out three times in the contest, continuing a recent trend that has seen the slugger whiff 10 times across his past 23 at-bats. However, he has also collected seven hits across that stretch, and the strikeouts are far less concerning as long as O'Neill continues to reach base.
Aug 31 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with an RBI infield single in a win over the Reds on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's sixth-inning infield knock plated Dylan Carlson to give the Cardinals a bit more breathing room by extending their lead to two runs. The burly slugger has encouragingly gone 3-for-8 with a triple, two RBI and a walk over his last two games after posting a 1-for-10 tally in his first two contests following his return from a three-game absence.
Aug 30 2021O'Neill went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and a walk in a loss to the Pirates on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill went 1-for-10 with a walk and a run in his first two contests back from a three-game absence due to back stiffness, but he snapped out of his doldrums with his first career three-bagger to open the scoring Sunday. O'Neill had hit .389 (7-for-18) with a home run and five RBI in the five games before his brief sabbatical, and perhaps Sunday's showing will reignite his bat.
Aug 27 2021O'Neill (back) will bat third and play left field Friday against the Pirates, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was absent from the lineup for three straight games while battling a sore back, though he appeared off the bench twice over that stretch. He was swinging a hot bat prior to the injury, hitting .265/.366/.529 with three homers in his last nine games.
Aug 26 2021O'Neill (back) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's stiff back will keep him out of the starting nine for the third day in a row, but his appearance as a pinch hitter in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Tigers would seem to hint that he's not in much danger of landing on the injured list. Lars Nootbaar will pick up a start in left field Thursday in O'Neill's stead.
Aug 25 2021O'Neill (back) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was removed from Tuesday's lineup due to the Tigers due to back stiffness, and he'll remain sidelined for the series finale. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench Wednesday, but Dylan Carlson will shift to left field while Tommy Edman starts in right.
Aug 24 2021O'Neill was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Tigers with back stiffness and wasn't available off the bench, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was slated to start his 10th straight game in left field before being replaced in the starting nine by Lars Nootbaar. O'Neill will be reevaluated Wednesday, and it's unclear if he'll be available for the series finale versus Detroit.
Aug 22 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with an RBI sacrifice fly, a stolen base and a run in a loss to the Pirates on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's seventh-inning sacrifice fly brought the Cardinals to within a run, but that ultimately proved to be their last one of the night. The steal put O'Neill's season tally at 10, a welcome complement to the 21 homers and .851 OPS he's also generated.
Aug 19 2021O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, an additional run and a walk in an 8-4 victory against the Brewers on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill walked in the first, nailed a go-ahead 450-foot long ball in the fifth off Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff and singled and scored in the seventh for St. Louis' eighth and final run. The home run was the 26-year-old's 21st of the season, making him the 15th player with at least 20 homers and nine steals in the bigs this year. A hot August featuring a .327 average has elevated O'Neill to a team-leading .274/.342/.518 slash line.
Aug 13 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored in Friday's 6-0 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been in and out of the lineup over the last few days while battling an illness but he looks to be back on track. He launched his 19th homer of the season in the fourth inning and later came around to score again in the eighth. It was just his second homer over the last 15 games but he raised his season OPS to .858 through 351 plate appearances.
Aug 12 2021O'Neill isn't starting Thursday's game against the Pirates due to side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although O'Neill was back in the lineup Wednesday, he'll return to the bench for the second time in the last three games as he continues to manage side effects from the vaccine. Dylan Carlson will shift to left field while Tommy Edman starts in right.
Aug 11 2021O'Neill (illness) is starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was scratched from Tuesday's lineup since he was experiencing side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, but he'll be back in action Wednesday. He went 0-for-6 with three walks and four strikeouts across his last two starts.
Aug 10 2021O'Neill was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates while dealing with the side effects of his COVID-19 vaccination, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals could place O'Neill on the COVID-19 injured list if they wanted to, but no such transaction has been made yet. O'Neill could potentially be available off the bench and could return as soon as soon as Wednesday. Edmundo Sosa entered the lineup in his absence, taking Tommy Edman's spot at second base and bumping Edman to the outfield.
Aug 6 2021O'Neill went 4-for-4 with a solo homer, a double and two runs scored in Friday's 4-2 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill singled and scored in the second inning and later added another run with his 410-foot shot off Mike Minor in the fourth. The 26-year-old outfielder has been red-hot so far in August, going 11-for-17 (.647) with three extra-base hits and five runs scored in five games. O'Neill continues improving on his breakout 2021 campaign and he's now slashing .286/.346/.528 with 18 home runs.
Aug 3 2021O'Neill went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run in Tuesday's loss to the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugger was responsible for three of St.Louis' eight total hits and collected the team's only extra-base hit when he doubled in the seventh frame. O'Neill also scored the Cardinals' lone run after singling in the ninth. The three-hit game was his fifth such performance of the campaign. O'Neill's .271/.331/.509 slash line is a considerable improvement over his .173/.261/.360 line over 50 games last season.
Jul 25 2021O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a home run, a pair of walks, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-6 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. He also scored the first of St. Louis' six runs in the fourth. The 26-year-old outfielder entered Sunday on an 0-for-12 skid at the plate, which came on the heels of an eight-game hitting streak. He's posted a .270/.328/.522 slash line with 17 long balls, 40 RBI, 42 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 296 plate appearances.
Jul 18 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill slammed a solo shot off Anthony DeSclafani in the second inning to open up the scoring Saturday, He and Paul Goldschmidt caused the bulk of the damage on offense, leading to the win. The 26-year-old rides a current four-game hitting streak and is batting .379 with an OPS of 1.058 over his last 10 games. This season, he is slashing .277/.333/.550 with 16 long balls, 38 RBI and 39 runs in 261 plate appearances.
Jul 10 2021O'Neill went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder got aboard with a single in the fifth inning, then stole second and scored on a Tommy Edman homer. O'Neill missed a couple of games this week while dealing with a food-related allergic reaction. He's hit safely in both games since he returned to the lineup. Overall, the 26-year-old has a .275/.333/.546 slash line with 15 home runs, seven steals, 37 RBI and 38 runs scored across 252 plate appearances.
Jul 9 2021O'Neill (illness) will be in the lineup Friday against the Cubs, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sat the past two games while dealing with a food-related allergic reaction, but he's good to go after Thursday's scheduled off day. The 26-year-old missed the previous three games before the allergic reaction with a right pinky finger injury, so he has only eight at-bats so far in July.
Jul 7 2021O'Neill (illness) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A late scratch Tuesday due to an allergic reaction, the 26-year-old is still feeling under the weather and will sit another day, if not longer. The Cardinals have a day off Thursday, so O'Neill will be afforded some extra recovery time before they begin a weekend series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Jul 6 2021O'Neill was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Giants after having a food-related allergic reaction, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was returning to action Tuesday after missing the previous three games with an injury to his right pinky finger, but he's now unavailable due to the allergic reaction. O'Neill should be considered day-to-day as he battles the ailment. Tommy Edman will shift to the outfield in his absence, while Edmundo Sosa starts at second base.
Jul 5 2021O'Neill (finger) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill suffered a right pinky injury in Friday's win over the Rockies, and he'll be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. The 26-year-old hasn't appeared off the bench in either of the last two contests, but manager Mike Shildt is optimistic that the outfielder can participate in some activities Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Dylan Carlson will shift to left field while Matt Carpenter enters the lineup at second base.
Jul 4 2021O'Neill (finger) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill exited Friday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the pinky of his right hand, and he's not in the lineup for the second straight contest. The 26-year-old didn't appear off the bench Saturday, and it's unclear if he'll be available as a reserve Sunday.
Jul 3 2021O'Neill (finger) isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Rockies, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill left Friday's win over the Rockies after he was hit by a pitch on the right pinky in the top of the sixth inning, and he'll be out of the lineup for at least one game. He underwent X-rays that revealed no structural damage, and the left fielder is going through pregame warmups to determine his availability Saturday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. Tommy Edman will shift to right field while Edmundo Sosa starts at second base.
Jul 2 2021O'Neill left Friday's win over the Rockies in the bottom of the sixth inning with a right finger injury, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was hit by a pitch on the right pinky in the top of the sixth inning, but he was initially able to remain in the game as a pinch runner. However, he was removed from the game to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. Prior to his departure, the 26-year-old went 1-for-2 with a double and a run. He'll undergo further testing Saturday, but manager Mike Shildt was encouraged by the outfielder's prognosis Friday.
Jun 30 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He also nabbed his sixth stolen base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill drove in Paul Goldschmidt with an RBI single in the third inning before stealing second base and advancing to third on Daulton Varsho's throwing error. O'Neill also swatted a pair of doubles for his second three-hit effort in the last three games. The 26-year-old hasn't gone yard since June 9, but he's still slashing .272/.326/.554 with 15 home runs and 36 RBI to go along with his half-dozen steals.
Jun 29 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Diamondbacks on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's multi-hit effort was his first since June 14 and helped him alleviate a 5-for-36 skid he'd been mired in since that contest. The slugger had posted an elevated 28.9 percent strikeout rate during that stretch, but he avoided any punchouts Monday. O'Neill is also in a rare power drought that predates the slump, as he hasn't left the yard since a two-home-run game June 9 against the Indians.
Jun 15 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI double and another two-bagger in a win over the Marlins on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's second double of the night plated Dylan Carlson in the eighth inning, snapping a 2-2 tie. The slugging outfielder now has four multi-hit efforts in June, a month during which he's slashing .349/.404/.651 with four doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, three walks, a stolen base and nine runs across 47 plate appearances over 12 games.
Jun 10 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill homered off Phil Maton in the third inning and off Trevor Stephan in the seventh inning. The outfielder is riding a current 16-game streak of reaching base safely. During that stretch, he has eight homers, 16 RBI, 14 runs and a pair of steals. The 26-year-old is slashing .291/.325/.649 in 160 plate appearances.
Jun 7 2021O'Neill went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Reds on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's 427-foot shot to center in the sixth finally broke the ice on the scoreboard for the Cardinals on the afternoon. The slugger has slugged five of his 13 round trippers on the season in the 11 games he's logged since coming off the injured list with a finger issue and boasts an impressive .278 average and .920 OPS, but his 34.2 percent strikeout rate remains problematic.
Jun 1 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with two singles, a run, stolen base and two strikeouts as the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill singled in the sixth but more impressively led off a tie game in the top of the ninth with a single, steal of second and subsequent run after an Edmundo Sosa single. O'Neill's 12 home runs and five steals are both career highs in only 36 games played and he's one of seven players with at least 5 steals and a .900 OPS this season.
May 29 2021O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two runs, three RBI and a strikeout as St. Louis defeated Arizona 7-4 Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill sandwiched a fifth inning solo home run between two doubles to continue a scorching three game stretch where he's 6-for-14 with three home runs and three doubles. The outfielder raised his slash line to .272/.306/.623 and his OPS would be top five if O'Neill had enough at-bats to qualify.
May 27 2021O'Neill (finger) went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and three strikeouts in Thursday's 5-4 extra-inning win over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill made a quick impact in his return from a sprained left middle finger. He went deep in the second inning off Arizona starter Jon Duplantier. O'Neill is up to nine homers, 20 RBI, 17 runs scored and four stolen bases across 112 plate appearances. He's striking out at a 33.9 percent clip, but as long as he continues to hit for power, he should be a fixture in the lineup.
May 25 2021Manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that he expects O'Neill (finger) to be activated at some point during the current road trip, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was given the green light to resume baseball activities late last week and he now appears to be on track to rejoin the Cardinals by the conclusion of their three-city road trip June 2. With Harrison Bader (ribs) joining him on the injured list Tuesday, O'Neill's return becomes even more important for the Redbirds moving forward.
May 21 2021O'Neill (finger) was cleared Friday to start taking part in baseball activities, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was hitting .226 with three home runs, 12 strikeouts and two walks over his last 10 games prior to suffering the broken left middle finger. It is unclear when he will be ready to come off the injured list.
May 18 2021O'Neill was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left middle finger Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill left Sunday's game against San Diego after suffering what was originally called a sprained finger while sliding into second base on a steal. The issue is apparently more serious than originally reported, and he'll miss at least 10 days and likely more. He'll test his finger next week, at which point a clearer timeline should emerge. Justin Williams takes over in left field in his absence Tuesday against the Pirates.
May 16 2021O'Neill was diagnosed with a sprained left middle finger after he left Sunday's game against the Padres, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill suffered his injury while sliding into second base on a steal in the sixth inning, and he was replaced in left field in the bottom half of the frame. He's currently considered day-to-day and will be able to recover during Monday's scheduled day off.
May 15 2021O'Neill went 2-for-4 with two-run home run and a strikeout as St. Louis fell 5-4 to San Diego on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill's eighth-inning shot off Emilio Pagan cut St. Louis' deficit in half and was the outfielder's third homer in four games. O'Neill hasn't offered much aside from power this season with a .242/.270/.526 slash line, though eight homers and three steals in just 28 games has been a big boost to fantasy managers that plucked him off the waiver wire following an early season injury.
May 12 2021O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill provided the Cardinals' only offense of the day when he took Brandon Woodruff deep in the eighth inning. It was his seventh home run of the season and second in as many games. He's overcome a 32.6 percent strikeout rate to remain productive early on this season, but he'll likely need to make more contact to remain a consistent producer at the plate.
May 11 2021O'Neill went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was hitless through four at-bats, but he went yard in the 11th inning to provide insurance runs for the Cardinals. It was O'Neill's sixth home run of the season and first in his last eight games. Despite the power surge, he's striking out at a 32.6 percent clip, which has limited him to a .238/.270/.488 line across 89 plate appearances. On the other hand, he's racked up 14 runs scored, 15 RBI and three stolen bases to even out his production.
May 9 2021O'Neill is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rockies, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill is 1-for-12 with a home run and a stolen base in his past four games, and he'll take a seat Sunday. Justin Williams will start in left field and bat seventh in the series finale for St. Louis.
May 6 2021O'Neill is not starting Thursday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill hit .359/.357/.718 with four homers in his first 11 games back from a groin injury but has since gone hitless in his last two. Justin Williams starts in left field in his absence.
May 4 2021O'Neill is not starting Tuesday's game against the Mets, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been on fire since returning from a groin injury, hitting .359 with four homers in 11 games. Justin Williams will start in left field in his absence.
Apr 30 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs and a strikeout in Friday's 7-3 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill struck out three times in Thursday's win over Philadelphia, but he hit his second home run in three games in the top of the fourth inning Friday. O'Neill is now hitting .241 with five home runs, 10 runs, eight RBI and two stolen bases this season.
Apr 28 2021O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base Wednesday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run homer in the second inning -- his fourth long ball of the season. He continued to reach base throughout the contest, which gave him the opportunity to swipe his first stolen base of the campaign. Though he's hitting only .217 due to a 35.4 percent strikeout rate, O'Neill has delivered four home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored across 48 plate appearances to this point.
Apr 25 2021O'Neill went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 5-2 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill left the yard in the second and fifth innings Sunday, both coming off Luis Castillo. It's the first time he's gone deep since Opening Day and breaks a 1-for-20 slump that he was stuck in entering Sunday's game. He's hitting .171 with four extra-base hits on the year.
Apr 24 2021O'Neill (foot) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was out of Friday's lineup after he fouled a ball off his foot Thursday, but he still pinch hit in the contest. O'Neill will start in left field and bat sixth Saturday.
Apr 23 2021O'Neill fouled a ball off his foot Thursday, which explains why he's absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals evidently believe O'Neill can play some role in Friday's contest, as they activated him from the 10-day inured list Friday after he missed time with a strained right groin. The foot issue appears to be a minor one, as he's expected to return to the lineup Saturday.
Apr 21 2021O'Neill (groin) is expected to play a full simulated game Thursday in order to facilitate a final decision on his activation, the Associated Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Mike Shildt described Thursday's plans as a vehicle that will give the team "a little more intel to make a decision" on whether O'Neill will come off the injured list Friday. The 25-year-old was slashing .143/.172/.286 across 29 plate appearances before getting sidelined.
Apr 19 2021O'Neill (groin) is expected to return to game action Friday against the Reds, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has been sidelined since April 11 due to a right groin strain, but it appears as though he'll be able to return after spending just over the minimum of 10 days on the injured list. The 25-year-old has been ramping up his sprinting recently and homered in each of his last two simulated games. O'Neill should reclaim his role as the Cardinals' primary left fielder once he's officially cleared to return.
Apr 11 2021O'Neill (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old exited Saturday's loss to Milwaukee with right groin tightness, and the injury has now been diagnosed as a strain. O'Neill will be eligible to be activated April 21, and he appears to be tracking toward a minimum IL stint, as manager Mike Shildt said the outfielder's imaging was "favorable," per Katie Woo of The Athletic. Lane Thomas was promoted to bolster the Cardinals' outfield depth.
Apr 10 2021O'Neill exited Saturday's game against the Brewers due to right groin tightness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started in left field Saturday and grounded into a double play during his lone at-bat. However, he was replaced by Austin Dean to begin the third inning. The severity of O'Neill's injury isn't yet known, and it's unclear whether he'll be forced to miss additional time.
Apr 2 2021O'Neill, who hit .356 in Grapefruit League play, went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's season-opening win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugger encouragingly kept his hot bat going to open the regular season, belting a 391-foot shot in the fourth inning. O'Neill's ability to continue flashing his well-documented power stroke without sacrificing consistent contact is seen as key to him taking the next step as a hitter in 2021.
Mar 28 2021O'Neil has officially clinched the starting left field job, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill never let up this spring, pushing his Grapefruit League average to .372 with yet another multi-hit effort Saturday versus the Mets. While the strikeouts could still use some whittling down, O'Neill has racked up a well-balanced line of three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, two walks, three steals and five runs across 45 plate appearances in exhibition play. The 25-year-old made an impression on manager Mike Shildt with his approach, with the skipper lauding O'Neill's consistency and the fact he's "in a good place, against lefties and righties."
Mar 13 2021O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in a Grapefruit League win over the Astros on Friday, pushing his spring average to .389 (7-for-18) across seven games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill has also encouragingly only struck out once over his last three games, with consistent contact being one of the main areas of his game that needs improvement. The power-hitting outfielder is looking to keep a hold on his starting left field job and is significantly helping his cause with some clutch hitting, as Friday's round tripper pushed his spring RBI total to eight.
Mar 7 2021O'Neill, who went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in a Grapefruit League win over the Astros on Sunday, is hitting .400 (4-for-10) with a walk and two runs overall across four spring games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On the flip side, four of the six outs O'Neill has made have come via strikeouts, a tangible reminder he still has plenty of work to do with respect to improving his contact rate. Nevertheless, the power display Sunday was certainly encouraging as O'Neill looks to build momentum ahead of a 2021 campaign during which he'll look to put last season's .173/.261/.360 slash behind him.
Feb 23 2021O'Neill has been focusing on improving several aspects of his hitting over the last few months after mustering just a .173 average in 157 plate appearances last season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I'm definitely more focused on that (offensive) side of the ball this year," O'Neill said. "I know it was a down year for me in the average department. I was still able to do some damage but obviously not in the way I would have liked and that the staff would have liked." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill offered Gold Glove defense in 2020, but his .173/.261/.360 line and 27.4 percent strikeout rate left plenty to be desired. Consequently, the 25-year-old center fielder went right into honing his craft during the offseason and got an early jump on working with Cardinals hitting coaches this spring. Specifically, O'Neill is concentrating on refining his timing and developing a less mechanical approach at the dish after posting sub-70.0 percent contact rates in all three of his big-league stints thus far.
Feb 15 2021O'Neill will have to earn the starting left field job in spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Goold responds to a reader question about whether the job is O'Neill's to lose as spring training begins by confirming there is "significant competition" for both the left and right field spots. O'Neill's lack of job security isn't surprising, considering his .173/.261/.360 line across 157 plate appearances a season ago, a major regression from the .262/.311/.411 tally the 25-year-old managed in just six fewer trips to the plate in 2019. There is no shortage of candidates for O'Neill to contend with, a list that includes Dylan Carlson, Lane Thomas and Justin Williams.
Sep 27 2020O'Neill went 0-for-2 with a stolen base, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was productive in the third inning, getting aboard with a walk before stealing second and scoring on an error by Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta. The steal was O'Neill's third of the year, and he's added seven homers, 19 RBI and 20 runs scored in 50 games.
Sep 25 2020O'Neill isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will take a seat for Friday's nightcap after going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in the first game of the doubleheader. Tommy Edman will take over at third base in his absence.
Sep 24 2020O'Neill isn't starting Thursday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will ride the bench for a third consecutive game Thursday in the series opener against the Brewers. Tommy Edman will serve as the left fielder in his absence.
Sep 23 2020O'Neill isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will play a bench role for a second consecutive game after struggling with strikeouts recently. Dylan Carlson will take over as the left fielder with Harrison Bader starting in center.
Sep 22 2020O'Neill isn't starting Tuesday against the Royals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will get a breather after striking out five times over the past two contests. Dylan Carlson will shift to left field with Harrison Bader starting in center.
Sep 20 2020O'Neill went 1-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored Saturday as St. Louis beat the Pirates 5-4. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill supplied a key two-run double as part of the Cardinals' comeback win. He has scuffled in 2020, hitting just .189 through 127 at-bats. O'Neill also ranks in the bottom tenth of the league in expected batting average. Luckily for interested fantasy managers, O'Neill is 4-for-8 lifetime with two home runs against Sunday's opponent, Joe Musgrove.
Sep 19 2020O'Neill went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run homer in a 6-5 win over the Pirates in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After an 0-for-3 showing in the nightcap, O'Neill only has two hits in his last 16 at-bats, but both of them have cleared the fence. On the season, the 25-year-old is slashing a woeful .185/.266/.387 with seven homers and 17 RBI over 42 games.
Sep 16 2020O'Neill went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and sacrifice fly during the win over the Brewers in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill cut the Brewers' lead to 2-1 with his solo shot off Brandon Woodruff in the second and later tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Despite the productive performance, O'Neill has just 15 RBI while hitting a disappointing .195/.276/.389 through 127 plate appearances.
Sep 15 2020O'Neill went 1-for-4 with an RBI infield single and a stolen base during a win over the Brewers in the second game of a doubleheader Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After sitting in the matinee of the twin bill before appearing as a pinch runner late, O'Neill drew the start in left field in the nightcap and made an impact. The slugger actually utilized his speed to help ignite the Cardinals' comeback from a 2-0 deficit with his two-out, fifth-inning infield single, giving him his fifth RBI over the last 12 games. However, two of the three outs O'Neill made came on strikeouts, and his 27.5 percent whiff rate on the season, while certainly an improvement on last season's 35.1 percent figure, continues to cap his overall upside.
Sep 14 2020O'Neill is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill will be on the bench for a third straight game, as Rangel Ravelo receives a second consecutive turn in the corner outfield. Though he's done well to raise his walk rate (to 8.8 percent) this season while cutting down on his strikeouts (26.7 percent), O'Neill hasn't been hitting for as much power. The Cardinals will likely ride the hotter bat between O'Neill and Ravelo in the starting nine as the team looks to replace Dexter Fowler, who could spend the rest of the season on the COVID-19 injured list.
Sep 10 2020O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and his first stolen base of the season during a 12-2 win over the Tigers in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He wasn't able to build on that performance in the nightcap, however, going 0-for-3 in a loss. On the season, O'Neill is slashing .192/.279/.384 with five homers and 12 RBI through 31 games.
Sep 5 2020O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double and an additional run scored in a victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of a doubleheader Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill didn't get into the matinee contest, but he keyed a 5-1 win in the nightcap with a two-run homer in the second inning. After going deep three times in his first seven games of the season, O'Neill went 17 contests without a long ball until his roundtripper Saturday. He has a .190/.289/.392 slash line on the season.
Aug 30 2020O'Neill is not in the lineup Sunday against Cleveland, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill started the past five games in left field but will take a seat after going hitless in his past 10 at-bats. Tommy Edman receives the start in left Sunday for the Cardinals.
Aug 27 2020O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a game-tying two-run single and a walk in a win over the Royals on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill played a pivotal part in the Cardinals' improbable four-run rally in the ninth inning, as his single with two outs brought home Brad Miller and Paul DeJong, the latter representing the tying run. O'Neill's two-hit effort snapped an 0-for-12 skid that had encompassed his previous three games, and it was his first multi-hit performance since Aug. 15. Despite the success Wednesday, O'Neill has a long way to go to vault his season line to respectability, as it still sits at an unsightly .179/.281/.375 through 64 plate appearances.
Aug 19 2020O'Neill (finger) will bat sixth and play left field in the afternoon portion of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill was supposed to start Tuesday's contest but was scratched with finger discomfort. The issue was evidently a minor one, and he'll be in the lineup for at least one game Wednesday, pushing Dylan Carlson to center and Harrison Bader to the bench.
Aug 18 2020O'Neill is dealing with right finger discomfort, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup due to the injury, and he didn't make an appearance during the loss to the Cubs. O'Neill could be available for Wednesday's doubleheader since his status may be question of pain toleration.
Aug 15 2020O'Neill went 3-for-7 with a double, home run, two RBI and one run scored across both games of the Cardinals' doubleheader against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill golfed an impressive home run in the fifth inning of the second game off Evan Marshall, driving an inside breaking offspeed pitch out to left field. He maintained his power production even after the Cardinals' long layoff and now has three home runs on the season. O'Neill has an impressive .273/.360/.727 line across 25 plate appearances to this point and should continue to receive plenty of playing time even in the team's crowded outfield.
Aug 6 2020O'Neill was mentioned by manager Mike Shildt on Wednesday as a candidate for cleanup hitter duties with Paul DeJong (illness) out of action for the time being, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The young outfielder has already slugged two home runs over his first 17 plate appearances, and although he's hitting only .200 overall in that small sample, O'Neill does have the power to fill the No. 4 spot in the lineup in the short term. The one other positive aspect of O'Neill's early-season performance has been an almost complete absence of strikeouts -- a frequent problem for him in the past -- as the 25-year-old has whiffed only once.
Jul 28 2020O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His fifth-inning shot was the only offense the Cards could muster against Homer Bailey on the night. O'Neill now has two homers and four RBI through four games as he attempts to hold onto the starting spot in left field and keep top prospect Dylan Carlson at bay.
Jul 24 2020O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill produced the first St. Louis run of the season in his first at-bat Friday, going deep to left field in the third inning. The 25-year-old is attempting to hold on to his tenuous grasp on the starting position in left field, and his Opening Day long ball can only help his case.
Jul 17 2020O'Neill is expected to begin the season as the Cardinals' starting left fielder, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just how long O'Neill keeps the job remains to be seen, as highly touted prospect Dylan Carlson could begin to steal at-bats quite early in the year. Still, O'Neill appears to have beaten out Lane Thomas for the starting role at the beginning of the campaign. O'Neill has shown both potential and cause for concern through his first 293 big-league plate appearances, hitting 14 homers while posting a .258/.307/.454 slash line (good for a 103 wRC+) but also striking out in 37.5 percent of his plate appearances.
Jun 30 2020O'Neill will begin the team's summer camp as a primary contender for the starting left field job, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: O'Neill and Lane Thomas will resume the heated competition they were engaged in before spring training was suspended. The slugger appeared to be losing ground to the rookie at that point, and with elite prospect Dylan Carlson projected to be available in some form throughout the regular season, O'Neill will have to likely steer clear of any prolonged slumps and contact issues to keep a hold of the starting role if he secures it coming out of summer camp.
May 4 2020O'Neill was recently cited by assistant coach Willie McGee for, among other traits, his underrated speed, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "He can run, man," McGee said. "I didn't know he was that quick. He's right up there in the league with all the rest of them from home to first." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McGee, whose responsibilities include coaching the team's outfielders, recently provided his assessment of several of his charges from his home in San Francisco. Regarding O'Neill, who's had some struggles making consistent contact during his first two big-league stints, McGee emphasizes the tools are far from lacking, noting the 24-year-old is "a lot better than what he's shown." The once-fleet-footed outfielder also notes the key to O'Neill taking the next step in his development is a more relaxed approach, theorizing that if and when the slugger settles into an everyday role, his ample natural abilities will shine through. However, job security was potentially an issue for O'Neill when spring training was suspended, as he'd hit just .219 (7-for-32) during Grapefruit League play and had seen Lane Thomas seemingly close the gap in a bid for the starting left field job.
Apr 9 2020O'Neill may have been close to being overtaken by Lane Thomas for the starting left field job when spring training was suspended, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The burly outfielder had opened spring training hot at the plate, slugging two home runs over his first five Grapefruit League games. However, Frederickson notes that by the time play was paused, Thomas had out-homered O'Neill by a 3-2 margin and also had a 40-point advantage in on-base percentage. O'Neill was hitting just .219 (7-for-32) over 13 exhibition contests by the time spring training was suspended, and the aforementioned pair of homers he launched early marked the only times he left the yard during the spring slate. Frederickson does add that he believes O'Neill will still get the nod if the battle is deemed close enough by manager Mike Shildt, as the team remains very high on the slugger's upside.
Mar 3 2020O'Neill is hitting .308 (4-for-13) with two home runs and three RBI over his first five Grapefruit League games heading into Tuesday's action. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugging outfielder went deep Sunday against the Astros for his second round tripper of the exhibition slate and is off to a good start in terms of making a case for the starting job in left field. O'Neill was hampered by a wrist injury late last season, but he generated a solid .262/.311/.411 line with six doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI, 10 walks and 18 runs across 151 plate appearances in 2019 during what was his second big-league tour of duty. He has formidable competition in the form of surging prospect Dylan Carlson, but given his prodigious power and past major-league experience, O'Neill could certainly take a hold of the everyday job with a strong enough spring.
Aug 30 2019O'Neill (wrist) was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday.
Aug 28 2019O'Neill (wrist) went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs overall while playing eight innings in right field during Double-A Springfield's loss to Frisco on Tuesday.
Aug 27 2019O'Neill (wrist) went 1-for-5 with a double while playing 10 innings in right field during Double-A Springfield's extra-inning loss to Frisco on Monday.
Aug 25 2019O'Neill (wrist) is 2-for-6 with three walks and a run over his last two rehab games with Triple-A Memphis.
Aug 22 2019O'Neill (wrist) went 1-for-3 while playing six innings in left field during Triple-A Memphis' win over Round Rock on Wednesday.
Aug 21 2019O'Neill (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
Aug 20 2019O'Neill (wrist) increased his pregame activity level Monday and is on track to begin a rehab assignment later in the week, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
Aug 15 2019O'Neill (wrist) has a chance to be activated from the injured list at some point during this coming weekend, the Associated Press reports. "I don't want to guarantee
Aug 10 2019O'Neill recently received an injection in his left wrist and is expected to head out on a brief rehab assignment early in the week, the Associated Press reports.
Aug 5 2019O'Neill is in St. Louis getting treatment for his left wrist strain and hopes to get some rehab games in before a return from the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com
Aug 3 2019O'Neill landed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist strain Saturday.
Aug 1 2019O'Neill was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Cubs with a minor hand injury, Jim Hayes of FOX Sports Midwest reports.
Jul 25 2019O'Neill is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2019O'Neill is out of the lineup<\/a> for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 18 2019O'Neill went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a solo home run in a win over the Pirates on Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, two runs and four RBI to help the Cardinals to a 7-0 victory over the Pirates on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 13 2019O'Neill went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2019O'Neill is not in the lineup for Friday's game against Arizona, Anne Rogers of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 7 2019O'Neill is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 1 2019O'Neill, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, went 0-for-8 with six strikeouts in his two weekend starts against the Padres.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2019O'Neill was recalled from Triple-A Memphis<\/a> on Saturday and will start in left field against the Padres, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 23 2018O'Neill went 3-for-5 with thee home runs and four RBI for Triple-A Memphis in its 7-4 win over Colorado Springs on Sunday.O'Neill's fifth multi-homer effort of the season helped him move into a tie with Salt Lake's Jabari Blash for the Pacific Coast League lead with 23. The 23-year-old's credentials as a power hitter aren't in dispute, but there remain some concerns about his plate discipline, which could harm his chances of claiming a full-time role with the Cardinals. Over his multiple stints in the big leagues this season, O'Neill has homered three times in 47 plate appearances, but has posted an ugly 1:20 BB:K.
Jul 14 2018O'Neill (hamstring) was sent to Triple-A Memphis to begin a rehab assignment Saturday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.O'Neill has been out since July 5 with a left hamstring strain. Given the timing, he'll likely spend a few days in Memphis before returning to St. Louis after the All-Star break, though he's not a lock to return to the majors once healthy.
Jul 5 2018O'Neill was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a left hamstring strain.It's unclear as to when O'Neill suffered the injury, but he'll likely remain out until after the All-Star break. He was promoted from Triple-A Memphis on July 1 and went 1-for-6 in three games prior to hitting the disabled list.
Jul 2 2018The Cardinals recalled O'Neill from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.O'Neill may only be in store for a short-term stay in the majors after assuming the roster spot of Dexter Fowler, who will be on the paternity list for the next three days. The power-hitting outfielder has smacked 22 home runs this season -- including three with the Cardinals -- but making consistent contact has been an issue. He struck out in 18 of his 41 plate appearances (43.9 percent) across his previous two stints in the big leagues.
Jul 1 2018O'Neill will be called up to the big leagues prior to Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.O'Neill will be called up to replace Dexter Fowler, who's expected to miss the Cardinals' upcoming series with Arizona while on paternity leave. In 16 games with St. Louis this season, O'Neill is batting .237 with three home runs and seven RBI
Jun 15 2018O'Neill, who'd been without a home run for eight consecutive games since returning to Triple-A Memphis on May 31, went 2-for-5 with a pair of solo homers and three RBI overall in a win over Albuquerque on Wednesday.The prodigious slugger's long-ball drought was exceedingly rare, considering he'd blasted a jaw-dropping 13 round trippers in his 29 prior games with the Redbirds. However, O'Neill hadn't been struggling during the aforementioned eight-game stretch despite not leaving the park, as he'd hit safely in five straight contests at one point. Wednesday's breakout effort pushed his Triple-A line to .317/.363/.676, starkly different numbers from the .237/.268/.500 he's slashed over 41 big-league plate appearances thus far.
May 31 2018O'Neill, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a loss to the Brewers on Wednesday, is 0-for-11 with eight whiffs over his last four games overall.The slugging rookie got his latest big-league stint off to a blistering start by slugging three home runs and compiling six RBI overall in his first four games. However, O'Neill is just 2-for-19 overall in the subsequent six games, a stretch that includes the aforementioned 0-for-11 slump. Contact continues to be a monumental challenge for O'Neill, whose 43.9 percent strikeout rate is playing a significant part in his recent struggles.
May 31 2018O'Neill was demoted to Triple-A-Memphis on Thursday.O'Neill will head to the minors after struggling at the dish over his last four games. He went 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts during that span. Through 16 games with the Cardinals, O'Neill hit .237 with three home runs and seven RBI.
May 22 2018O'Neill homered and knocked in four in a 2-for-4 game Monday against Kansas City.O'Neill won't even let the Cardinals think about taking his bat out of the lineup. The 22-year-old is now an absurd 7-for-12 with homers in all three games he has started since coming back to the majors May 18. O'Neill, a third round pick in 2013, has been one of the most enticing power prospects in the minors and is showing why in his second crack at the show after going 0-for-7 in six games in a stint this April. At this rate, he'll prove he not only belongs in St. Louis, but in the Cardinals outfield on a daily basis.
May 20 2018O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a pair of runs in the Cardinals' 5-1 victory over the Phillies on Sunday.It was the second homer in three games for the 22-year-old and he's now 5-for-8 with three runs and two RBI to go along with the pair of long balls since he was promoted due to his hot hitting at Triple-A Memphis. Whether he can break into the regular rotation in a stacked Cardinals outfield remains the question here, but if O'Neill continues to hit like this, he'll at least make a compelling case that he should be getting consistent at-bats.
May 19 2018O'Neill entered Friday's win against the Phillies in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement and went 1-for-1 with a run.The 22-year-old had just been recalled from Triple-A Memphis, where he's been tearing the cover off the ball with 13 home runs over 113 at-bats. O'Neill had gone hitless in nine plate appearances in his one prior Cardinals stint this season, so Friday's seventh-inning single marked the first major-league hit.
May 19 2018O'Neill hit the first home run of his big league career -- a solo shot -- in Saturday's loss to the Phillies. He finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk in addition to his homer.O'Neill's first stint in the bigs resulted in seven hitless at-bats, but he seems to have figured things out after being sent back down to the minors. He collected his first big league hit Friday and followed it up with his first longball Saturday off of Luis Garcia. O'Neill has intriguing power but St. Louis' stacked outfield consisting of Tommy Pham, Marcell Ozuna, and Dexter Fowler will make it tough for him to carve out a regular role.
May 18 2018O'Neill was recalled from Triple-Memphis by the Cardinals on Friday.O'Neill had an uneventful six-game stint in the majors earlier this season before being sent to Memphis in late April, and has been tearing the cover off the ball of late. The 22-year-old has a .319 batting average with 13 home runs and 31 RBI in 113 at-bats in Triple-A, but has no clear path to playing time in St. Louis with Marcell Ozuna, Tommy Pham, Dexter Fowler and Harrison Bader all currently healthy in the team's outfield.
May 15 2018O'Neill went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs for Triple-A Memphis in its 2-1 win over Nashville on Monday.O'Neill has now gone deep four times in Memphis' last three contests, bringing his home-run count up to 13 across just 111 plate appearances at Triple-A. That total is tied for the second-most in all of the minors, an achievement rendered even more impressive by O'Neill having appeared in six games for the Cardinals earlier this season. While O'Neill's 1.9 percent walk rate leaves something to be desired, it doesn't look to be a major impediment to him eventually rejoining the big club. Instead, it's the Cardinals' ample depth in the outfield that has prevented a permanent stay in the majors for O'Neill, who will likely need to wait for one of Marcell Ozuna, Tommy Pham or Dexter Fowler to succumb to an injury before receiving an extended look from St. Louis.
May 14 2018O'Neill went 3-for-8 with two home runs and four RBI for Triple-A Memphis in two games against Nashville on Saturday and Sunday.That's five round trippers for O'Neill in the last nine games, a torrid stretch during which he's driven in nine runs. The slugging outfielder is going to be difficult to keep down on the farm if he continues to churn out the caliber of effort that's led to a .324/.333/.696 line over 26 games with the Redbirds. O'Neill already had one brief cup of coffee with the big-league club this season, going hitless over nine plate appearances.
May 8 2018O'Neill is 6-for-12 with a pair of solo home runs and four runs overall in his last three games for Triple-A Memphis.The surge has pushed O'Neill's season line with the Redbirds to .354/.353/.695 over 82 at-bats. The slugging outfielder recently logged a brief major-league stint with the Cardinals, but he went hitless over nine plate appearances. O'Neill's improvement in Triple-A this season has been notable, considering he'd hit no better than .253 in his two prior stops at that level.
Apr 19 2018O'Neill was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.In a corresponding move, the Cardinals optioned John Brebbia to Memphis. O'Neill is set to make his major-league debut in the coming days following a terrific start to the 2018 campaign at the Triple-A level. Over 12 games, O'Neill was hitting .388/.385/.837 with six home runs and 18 RBI. Since the 22-year-old did not take the spot of Tommy Pham (groin) on the active roster, it appears as though the latter received positive news after experiencing tightness in his right groin during Tuesday's contest. If Pham doesn't require any time off, expect O'Neill to serve out of a reserve role in the outfield with occasional starts in the Cardinals' lineup.
Apr 18 2018The Cardinals are expected to promote O'Neill from Triple-A Memphis prior to Thursday's game against the Cubs, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill has been scorching hot at Triple-A to open the 2018 season, hitting .388 with a 1.222 OPS and six home runs in just 12 contests. The 22-year-old wasn't able to show his potential in spring training as he dealt with a strained oblique and then a hamstring strain, which limited him to just seven games in the Grapefruit League. O'Neill will provide added depth in the Cardinals' outfield moving forward and could vie for regular at-bats in the event Tommy Pham (groin) is forced to miss time.
Apr 16 2018O'Neill went 3-for-5 with four RBI from a pair of two-run home runs and scored three runs overall in Triple-A Memphis' 7-4 win over Iowa on Monday.The 22-year-old has been terrorizing Triple-A pitching since the season began, with Monday's outburst pushing his average to .432 over his first 47 plate appearances. That impressive number is partly comprised of nine extra-base hits (six home runs, two doubles and one triple) and he's already knocked in a whopping 18 runs over 11 games. His homer total notably ties him with the Padres' Josh Naylor for tops in all of the minors.
Apr 7 2018O'Neill has three home runs and seven RBI over his first three games for Triple-A Memphis.He had a quiet spring with the Cardinals before being reassigned to minor-league camp March 11 shortly after suffering a hamstring injury. He's been a man on a mission over the Redbirds' first three contests, however, with four of his five hits going for extra bases. O'Neill slugged a combined 31 round trippers last season between Triple-A Tacoma (while still with the Mariners) and Memphis, so the early surge isn't overly surprising.
Mar 11 2018O'Neill (hamstring) was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill wasn't expected to return this spring due to his recent hamstring injury. He appeared in seven Grapefruit League games, going 3-for-12 with seven strikeouts over said outings. While he's in line to open the year at Triple-A Memphis, he could earn a chance to play in the Show over the course of the upcoming season.
Mar 10 2018O'Neill will likely remain sidelined for the next two weeks after straining his right hamstring during Friday's game, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill hasn't officially been ruled out for the remainder of the club's Grapefruit League games but it seems highly unlikely that St. Louis will rush him back into meaningless contests with the regular season fast approaching. The 22-year-old is set to begin the 2018 campaign at Triple-A Memphis but will have a solid chance to work his way up to the majors at some point this summer.
Mar 9 2018O'Neill exited Friday's spring game against the Astros with a right hamstring strain, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.Friday was O'Neill's first start since returning from the strained oblique he sustained in late February. The severity of the injury is unclear at this point but the 22-year-old seems likely to at least be sidelined for a couple of days.
Mar 8 2018O'Neill came into Thursday's Grapefruit League game and received an at-bat for the first time since going down with a strained oblique in late February, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill was also able to take the field in left during Thursday's contest against the Marlins, making a diving catch in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Redbirds claim a spring victory. Prior to this outing, O'Neill had only appeared as a pinch hitter, so this is a clear step forward for the 22-year-old. Expect him to slide into the starting lineup within the next couple days.
Mar 7 2018O'Neill (oblique) was able to enter Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Washington as a pinch runner, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill had been dealing with a strained oblique for the past few days, but he appears to be nearing full health and could get back onto the field in the near future. The outfield prospect slashed .253/.304/.548 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 37 games with Triple-A Memphis after coming over from the Mariners' organization last July.
Mar 4 2018O'Neill (oblique) is progressing but still isn't close to returning, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports.Manager Mike Matheny remarked that the fact the injury was caught early has helped O'Neill with his recovery timeline thus far, but that still doesn't project an imminent return for the promising prospect. The 22-year-old, who's slated to begin the season at Triple-A Memphis but could certainly find his way to the big-league club in 2018, was hitting .222 (2-for-9) with a walk, a stolen base and a run in four spring training games before being sidelined.
Mar 3 2018O'Neill has a strained oblique, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.O'Neill's last spring appearance came Monday against the Twins. The 22-year-old outfielder was expected to open the season at Triple-A Memphis, so this injury likely doesn't affect his eventual major-league arrival date.
Nov 20 2017O'Neill was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster Monday.By being added to the 40-man roster, O'Neill will be protected from the Rule 5 draft. O'Neill opened the 2017 season in the Mariners organization before being traded to the Cardinals. Between Triple-A Tacoma and Triple-A Memphis he played in 130 games and slashed .246/.321/.499.
Sep 3 2017O'Neill went 3-for-6 with five RBI from a two-run single and three-run home run for Triple-A Memphis against Colorado Springs on Sunday.As per Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com, it was O'Neill's second three-hit effort in as many games, while the homer was his fifth in the last six contests. The slugging prospect now has 31 round trippers between his time in the Mariners and Cardinals organizations this season, leaving him just one short of his career high.