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When Matt Svanson was called from the bullpen to the dugout Tuesday night in the middle of Class AAA Memphis’ game against Jacksonville at AutoZone Park, the right-handed reliever thought that it could mean one of two things.

“I was honestly thinking either I’m going to the majors or getting traded, just because I know once you get traded, you sometimes get passed around here and there. That’s kind of what I was worried about,� said Svanson, who the Cardinals acquired in a deal with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.

What Svanson was told once he reached the dugout was that he was heading to the major leagues for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old had to hastily pack his bags Tuesday night and drive to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ as the Cardinals promoted him to give them a fresh arm who could provide multiple innings if needed Wednesday vs. the Astros with Steven Matz, who was on a limited pitch count, set to make his first start of the year.

Right-hander Roddery Munoz was optioned to Class AAA to clear a spot for Svanson.

“He fills up the zone. He’s on the ground. He gives you multiples,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Svanson. “... This is a low walk, low (strikeout), high ground ball type of lineup, and it allows for him to potentially set himself up.�

A 13th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2021, Svanson was dealt to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in the Paul DeJong trade in August 2023. He was promoted to the majors after beginning the 2025 minor league season with Memphis, where he allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings across four appearances for the Cardinals’ Class AAA affiliate.

Since arriving in the Cardinals farm system, Svanson has maintained a 2.76 ERA in 84 2/3 innings. While with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) in 2024, Svanson posted a 2.69 ERA in 63 2/3 innings and was 27 for 27 on save opportunities. The addition of a cutter to his pitch arsenal helped Svanson keep opposing hitters to a .590 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and led them to a 52.7% ground-ball rate.

The strong season earned the right-hander a 40-man roster spot this past offseason that protected him from the Rule 5 draft in December.

“It’s definitely a roller coaster,� Svanson said of his journey to reach the majors. “It’s nice the past two years getting comfortable with all the guys (and) all the staff here. (There are) different philosophies, and then the learning, honestly, is maybe better. You get trained by one organization to learn a certain skill set, and then another one brings you in.�

The 40-man roster spot gave Svanson his first opportunity in a big league camp. The right-hander logged three innings and allowed two runs in three Grapefruit League games before being optioned to minor league camp.

Svanson said the experience gave him an idea of what his arsenal could do to hitters at the big league level. The time around experienced big league arms helped further that understanding.

“Learning different attack methods from all the veterans in the locker room and then just learning how to be a professional, too,� Svanson said of his takeaways from big league camp. “It’s a different level. Every level you move up is a different level of maturity that you have to have.�

Winn, Herrera continue progression

Masyn Winn (lower back spasms) and Ivan Herrera (left knee inflammation) have progressed to playing catch and hitting as they rehab from their respective injuries, Marmol said.

Winn is expected to remain in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ over the weekend to continue rehabbing while the Cardinals are in New York for a three-game series vs. the Mets. Winn could join the Cardinals in Atlanta for the second leg of their two-city road trip and could be activated as soon as Tuesday.

How Winn responded to his pregame activities Wednesday would provide a better indication of his timeline to return, but Marmol noted Winn is “on pace for that.�

Marmol said the “hopeâ€� for Herrera is that he begins a running progression and a catching progression at some point this weekend while the Cardinals are in New York for a three-game series against the Mets. Marmol said Herrera will remain in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ to continue his rehab.

“We’ll have a much better idea as to what the timeline looks like after that, because those would be the real boxes to check,� Marmol said of Herrera.

Kross hits for cycle

Cardinals prospect Josh Kross hit for the cycle Tuesday for Class Low-A Palm Beach. Kross, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft, tripled in his first at-bat, homered to right field in his third at-bat, singled in his fourth at-bat, and completed his cycle with a ground-rule double in his fifth at-bat. Kross, 22, collected six RBIs in the PB-Cards’ 10-5 win over Clearwater, the Phillies’ Class Low-A affiliate.

A catcher from the University of Cincinnati, Kross has batted .274 with a .928 on-base plus slugging percentage in 31 minor league games since debuting last summer. He’s yet to advance from Class Low-A.