Whitley emotional after making Cards' roster

ST. LOUIS -- On Monday, reliever Kodi Whitley was welcomed to the Cardinals by singing the national anthem before a Summer Camp workout as part of a rookie prank that Miles Mikolas put together. On Tuesday, manager Mike Shildt informed Whitley that he had made the Opening Day roster.

Welcome, officially, to the team.

“I walked in and they said, ‘Oh, here’s the singer,’” Whitley said. “But [Shildt] then looked at me and said, ‘It’s always a good thing to be able to tell somebody that they made the Opening Day roster.’ It was awesome.”

Whitley said he called his mom, who was with his sister, as soon as he left Busch Stadium to share the news. He told his girlfriend in person back at his hotel.

“They’re both crying, and they’re making me start crying because they’re crying,” Whitley said. “And then my girlfriend was crying, too, so it was a big cryfest, a lot of happy tears. It was a cool moment to get to call them, the people that have supported me all the way through, and to get to share that news with them, it was an awesome moment.”

Whitley, St. Louis' No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, moved quickly through the Cardinals' system last season, finding success at three levels (Class A Advanced, Double-A and Triple-A) and posting a 1.60 ERA across 67 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out 78 and walked 19 while collecting nine saves, and he continued that success in the Arizona Fall League. He was invited to his first big league Spring Training and continued to impress with his stuff against Major League hitters.

That confidence continued to build at Summer Camp, and Whitley took advantage of the expanded rosters and camp absences to start the season with St. Louis.

“Obviously, with what has happened with all this and the roster expanding helped me out a lot, but going into Spring Training this year, that was never a thought, breaking with the team and being on the Opening Day roster,” Whitley said. “It was, 'Go and enjoy your first camp, try to learn as much as you can, try to just perform and do well and have an open mind and whatever happens, happens.'

“When I got to Spring Training this year, you’re throwing pitches to higher-caliber hitters and you’re still getting them out with your stuff, so it raises your confidence level and makes you feel more confident that when you go on the mound, your stuff does play.”

With nine pitchers in the bullpen, Whitley didn't appear in Friday’s opener vs. the Pirates. He’ll likely pitch his way into a role with the Cardinals -- the better he does, the higher leverage situation he’ll pitch. But his fastball, which he uses to attack hitters in the strike zone, and a swing-and-miss slider could find success in the big leagues.

“Guy’s aggressive, trusts his stuff,” Shildt said. “Throws strikes, has a secondary pitch. Got a lot of soft contact and some swing-and-miss stuff. He’s more than earned a spot on the Opening Day roster for the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Miller in Springfield for rehab
Infielder Brad Miller arrived at the Cardinals’ alternate training site in Springfield, Mo., Thursday night to get at-bats while on the 10-day injured list for bursitis in his right ankle. Miller faced pitchers and played some defense in Summer Camp, but he couldn't participate in running.

The Cardinals hope to have Miller on the roster by next weekend, when the Cardinals play the Brewers.

Gallegos close to being ready
Reliever Giovanny Gallegos will throw more batting practice Saturday and will be “pretty close” to being available on the roster afterward, Shildt said. Gallegos was left off the Opening Day roster -- which has 29 players -- because of his late arrival to Summer Camp.

The Cardinals wanted to give Gallegos a few extra days to get ready and to make sure he recovers well from the live batting practice he threw Thursday during the Cardinals’ optional workout.

“Arm strength was there,” Shildt said. “The secondary pitches had the life that we would expect. Command not as crisp, but you would expect that out of the first live.”