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Maikel Cleto | Relief Pitcher

Team: St Louis Cardinals
Age / DOB:  (24) / 5/1/1989
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 235
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
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Recent News

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Triple-A Memphis.
Cleto allowed five earned runs over 2 1/3 innings Wednesday in a long relief appearance against the Diamondbacks. The hard-throwing right-hander owns an ugly 10.34 career ERA in the major leagues. Jun 6 - 12:25 PM

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Date:
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Triple-A Memphis.

Cleto has just a 5.67 ERA in 13 appearances (six starts) with the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate. The hard-throwing 24-year-old will provide bullpen depth.
Jun 5 - 1:20 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals reassigned RHP Maikel Cleto, C Rob Johnson and INF Greg Garcia to minor league camp.

Cleto impressed this spring, posting a 1.35 ERA while striking out 10 over 6 2/3 innings, but he didn't have a real shot to crack the Opening Day roster. The hard-thrower should be up with the big club at some point this season, though.
Mar 29 - 4:05 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Triple-A Memphis.

Cleto was demoted to make room for Trevor Rosenthal's promotion. The 23-year-old will return to a 4.50 ERA and 34/9 K/BB ratio over 26 minor league innings.
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 10:54:00 AM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Triple-A Memphis.

Cleto appeared in four games for the Cardinals earlier this month. He'll serve as a middle reliever initially, but has the makeup to be used in a setup role.
Sat, Jun 30, 2012 10:12:00 AM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Triple-A Memphis.

Cleto appeared in just four games for the Cardinals, registering a poor 5.40 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over five innings of work. He has a live arm, but needs to refine his game in the minor leagues before he is ready to contribute full-time at the big league level.
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 12:06:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

The Cardinals will option Maikel Cleto back to the Triple-A level before Tuesday night's game.

Cleto has registered a poor 5.40 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in five innings of relief this season for the defending World Series champions. The 23-year-old can hit the upper-90s with his fastball but doesn't have the secondary stuff to be a successful major league reliever at this point.
Source: Joe Strauss on Twitter
Mon, Jun 18, 2012 09:09:00 AM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Triple-A Memphis.

He'll take one of the roster spots vacated by Brandon Dickson and Chuckie Fick, who were optioned to the minors Thursday. The Cards will make another move Friday. Cleto, 23, has a 4.50 ERA and 34/9 K/BB ratio over 26 innings at the Triple-A level this year. The hard-throwing right-hander will likely be used in a middle relief role.
Thu, May 31, 2012 04:54:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Triple-A Memphis.

Cleto allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings of Grapefruit League action this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander will function as organizational relief depth this year for the defending World Series champions.
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 05:06:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Triple-A Memphis.

The Cards' bullpen has been overworked in recent days, so Cleto will be available to eat up some innings. The 21-year-old isn't ready for prime time yet, having been drilled for six runs over 3 1/3 innings in his previous stints this season, but he has a big arm and could help out if he can manage to keep his walks down.
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 11:08:00 AM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Double-A Springfield.

Cleto made just one appearance during his most recent stay with the big club, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings against the Phillies on Tuesday. While the hard-throwing youngster has plenty of potential, he just doesn't look major-league ready right now.
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 03:28:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Double-A Springfield.

Cleto has a huge arm and is capable of touching triple digits with his fastball, even as a starter. He's also posted a 3.27 ERA and 9.8 K/9 rate over 63 1/3 innings between High- and Double-A this year. But, he looked overwhelmed in his major league debut earlier this month and has made just seven minor league appearances above A-ball. The Cards will likely use him only in mop-up situations.
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 04:09:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals optioned RHP Maikel Cleto to Double-A Springfield.

Hardly a surprise after Cleto looked overwhelmed during his MLB debut on Thursday, throwing almost exclusively straight fastballs while getting roughed up for five runs on three hits, two walks and two home runs in just two innings of work against the Giants. Look for him to remain on the farm for the foreseeable future.
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 02:23:00 PM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled RHP Maikel Cleto from Double-A Springfield.

Cleto, 22, was acquired from the Mariners in the Brendan Ryan deal over the winter. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 2.55 ERA over nine starts and one relief appearance between High-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield this season, averaging 9.8 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. While he has primarily been a starting pitcher in the minors, the Cardinals are expected to use him out of the bullpen.
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 11:00:00 AM
Maikel Cleto - R - Cardinals

Mariners traded RHP Mikael Cleto to the Cardinals for SS Brendan Ryan.

It's an interesting haul for the Cardinals, who acquire the hard-throwing Cleto for a player they no longer wanted. Cleto brings high-90s heat, but his command is subpar and he needs to develop secondary pitches. As a 21-year-old at High-A High Desert this past season, he was 4-9 with a 6.16 ERA, producing an 83/44 K/BB rate in 102 1/3 innings. He's a lottery ticket.
Sun, Dec 12, 2010 03:22:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Yadier Molina
2Tony Cruz
1B1Allen Craig
2Matt Adams
2B1Matt Carpenter
2Daniel Descalso
SS1Pete Kozma
2Rafael Furcal
3B1David Freese
2Ty Wigginton
LF1Matt Holliday
CF1Jon Jay
2Shane Robinson
RF1Carlos Beltran
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Adam Wainwright
2Jaime Garcia
3Jake Westbrook
4Lance Lynn
5Shelby Miller
6Chris Carpenter
7John Gast
8Tyler Lyons
9Michael Wacha
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Edward Mujica
2Trevor Rosenthal
3Randy Choate
4Joe Kelly
5Fernando Salas
6Kevin Siegrist
7Seth Maness
8Keith Butler
9Jason Motte