Cardinals call up Gonzalez to start vs Rockies

Joe Kelly has been sent to the disabled list to make room for Marco Gonzalez. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

DENVER — The St. Louis Cardinals have picked up left-hander Marco Gonzalez from Double-A Springfield to start against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Gonzalez will make his major league debut in his home state.

The Cardinals also moved pitcher Joe Kelly to the 60-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and designated shortstop Pete Kozma for assignment.

The 22-year-old Gonzalez was the Cardinals’ first-round pick — 19th overall — in the 2013 first-year player draft. He was 5-4 with a 2.08 ERA in 21 minor league starts in 2013-14.

Gonzalez won four Class 5A state championships with Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colorado. He’s the first St. Louis starter to bypass Triple-A for his debut since Cliff Politte in April 1998 against the Dodgers.

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