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Raposo, a 26-year-old former undrafted free agent and an NCAA Division III product, got word from his Triple-A manager that he was getting his first call-up to the majors.

“It was a lot of shock. It was a lot of hugs. … It was a special moment that I won’t forget,� Raposo said Saturday while standing in front of his locker inside the Cardinals clubhouse at Busch Stadium.

The call to the majors came as rookie catcher Ivan Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list for back tightness — a retroactive move to June 19 — and as starting catcher Willson Contreas (left forearm) continues to rehab with Memphis.

While in the majors, Raposo will back up rookie Pedro Pages just as he did in Memphis to begin the minor league season before Contreras’s injury opened a door for Pages to get regular playing time in the majors.

“It was locked up,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Herrera’s back injury. “Not enough progress for him to be able to serve as a backup if anything happened to Pages (Saturday). That’d probably be the case for several days and we couldn’t take that risk. … It’s also not fair to just rush Willson back here because we have a need.�

Contreras caught seven innings and took four at-bats Friday with Memphis. He is scheduled to start at catcher Saturday for Memphis, followed by a start Sunday as the Class AAA club’s designated hitter. Marmol said having Contreras catch back-to-back games would be an important step in Contreras’s rehab process.

There is no set date for when Contreras, who has been sidelined with a fractured left arm since May 8, may be activated. How the veteran catcher responds to the increased workload over this weekend will factor into the decision.

During his first full season in Triple-A, Raposo has appeared in 47 games and batted .187 with a .564 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Defensively, he has a .992 fielding percentage and has thrown out seven of 43 base stealers against him.

A native of Rhode Island and product of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, Raposo is a career .242 hitter and has a .709 OPS in 620 minor league games since signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cardinals in 2021.

Raposo’s inclusion on the Cardinals’ 26-man roster makes him the only player on an active big-league roster born in Rhode Island. He would be the seventh Cardinals player to debut this year and the first Cardinal born in Rhode Island to appear in an MLB game since Phile Paine in 1958 against the Giants at ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵman’s Park.

“It’s been a journey I’d say,� Raposo said. “I just try to show up and be the same guy every day and just control what I can and whatever is asked of me, do it. Just be a good teammate.�

Raposo spent the last two spring trainings as a non-roster invitee in Cardinals camp. He appeared in three Grapefruit League games in 2023 and 12 this past spring. Those springs have been filled with catching bullpens, getting familiar with big-league arms and demonstrating what he could do behind the plate if a call came his way.

“He’s always where he needs to be when he needs to be there. Super prepared,� Marmol said of Raposo. “I’ve enjoyed my limited time with him, so it’s cool to see him come into the office when we got here and welcome him as a big leaguer.�

Matz faces setback

Left-hander Steven Matz will not throw for the next two weeks after experiencing a setback in his rehab progression from a lower back injury, Marmol said. Matz, who went on the IL in early May, experienced lingering soreness the day after he threw three perfect innings in a rehab start June 16 for Class AA Springfield.

Matz’s pause in throwing will require him to go through another “full� progression to get back on the mound and likely will keep the lefty out for four to six weeks.

The Cardinals have used righty Andre Pallante to fill the fifth starter’s role through the last five turns in the rotation and is set to retain that role after Matz’s setback.

“He’s out there competing and, up to this point, he’s given us our best chance of being in the ballgame and will remain in that spot,� Marmol said of Pallante, who has posted a 4.76 ERA and totaled 22 2/3 innings since moving into the rotation.

Arenado, Siani exit early

Nolan Arenado was removed in the eighth inning of the Cardinals’ 9-4 win Saturday over the Giants. Arenado was said to be dealing with left forearm discomfort after he started at third base and batted fifth.

Michael Siani exited at the start of the fourth with bruised ribs after he made a diving catch in center field to end the top of the third. X-rays on Siani’s ribs came back negative, Marmol said.

Extra bases

• Center fielder Tommy Edman rejoined the Cardinals at Busch Stadium after he spent the last week rehabbing his right wrist at the club’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida. He will continue his rehab work upon his return. The next step in Edman’s rehab was not provided Saturday.
• Righty Kyle Gibson is expected to start Tuesday. Gibson was scratched from his start Wednesday in Miami because of back tightness.
• Outfielder Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain) began hitting off a tee and with soft toss. He said he’s responded well to hitting and running and will continue his hitting progression. There is no set date for when he could begin a rehab assignment.
• Righty Giovanny Gallegos is expected to be used in lower-leverage spots in his return from the injured list. Gallegos, who had been on the IL since May 6 with a shoulder impingement, allowed 12 runs in nine innings before he was sidelined by the injury.
• The imaging on Riley O’Brien’s right forearm returned without issues, Marmol said. O’Brien had been slated to pitch in a rehab outing June 18 with Double-A Springfield but had that pushed back. The Cardinals are awaiting additional feedback before determining the next step for O’Brien.

Righty Nick Robertson is scheduled to pitch Sunday with Memphis. Robertson (elbow) has made two relief appearances since beginning his rehab assignment June 18.