Cardinals manager Mike Matheny confirmed that Oscar Taveras' odds of making the team are nearly insurmountable.

Taveras, coming off right ankle surgery last season, is currently shelved with right hamstring tightness. "It's not possible - without him being healthy," Matheny said of Taveras' shot to crack the Opening Day roster. "He needed for everything to go right for that to be a possibility. It's definitely something that's holding him up." Taveras, one of the game's best prospects, will undoubtedly make his big league debut later on in the summer.

Oscar Taveras (right hamstring tightness) remains out of the lineup.

St. Louis parked Peter Bourjos for one week with a minor hamstring cramp, so Taveras is probably still a few days away from returning to game action. The precocious talent doesn't have a great chance of cracking the Opening Day roster, but he'll be up at some point in 2014.

Oscar Taveras had a double in three at-bats Friday in his spring debut.

Taveras had a bit of a misplay in right field, in which a double got over his head. There's a good chance it would have been a hit regardless, but Taveras didn't play it right from the start. Other than that, the day was a positive. He didn't seem particularly limited by his surgically repaired ankle.

Oscar Taveras (ankle) is making his Grapefruit League debut Friday.

He's playing right field and batting eighth versus the Mets in one of the Cardinals' split-squad games. Taveras has been squeamish about testing out his surgically-repaired right ankle in camp, but he went through intensive baserunning drills Thursday with no issues and is ready to give it a go. The top prospect hasn't helped his chances at winning a roster spot with a late start, but he was probably destined for Triple-A to begin the year, anyway.

Oscar Taveras (ankle) did intensive baserunning, sliding, and stopping drills Thursday in camp.

Taveras told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he felt "much better" than the first time he did a baserunning workout. He's still being eased into action as he continues his recovery from last year's ankle surgery. The top outfield prospect should soon be ready for Grapefruit League games.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said there's still no spring debut date set for Oscar Taveras.

The Cardinals want to get Taveras into games, but the club first wants him to stop favoring his surgically repaired ankle. "He's anxious to get going, and that's exactly how we want him to be," Matheny said. "He's done a lot of work to get to the point where he is right now. In his mind, he's not favoring it. So it's a tough conversation. We're trying to do what's best for him. And what's best for our club, too, is to have a player who is completely ready to go before he goes out there and starts learning bad habits or makes himself more susceptible to an injury." Taveras is taking the team trip to Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday, so his debut could be any day now.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Monday that Oscar Taveras (ankle) is "close to being able to take off."

"But it's smart that we hold on till he's not favoring the weak side," added the Cardinals skipper. Taveras is still on his way back from ankle surgery and has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this spring. It's looking doubtful at this point that the 21-year-old outfield prospect is able to crack the Opening Day roster.

Oscar Taveras (ankle) is expected to ramp up the intensity of his workouts on Monday in Cardinals camp.

The Cardinals have been easing their top hitting prospect into drills this spring to allow his surgically-repaired ankle extra time to heal. Taveras should be 100 percent by the start of the 2014 regular season and has an outside shot an Opening Day roster spot. The 21-year-old is a .320/.377/.518 career hitter in the minors with a power swing that has been described as "violent."

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Thursday that Oscar Taveras (ankle) is "100 percent cleared" for baseball activity.

Mozeliak did add that club will still restrict Taveras' running as he works his way back from ankle surgery, but it sounds like the top prospect could go all out if need be. "From a running standpoint, we just want to be smart and patient," Mozeliak said. "You will see him pushing himself, but you may see some of the range-type drills in the outfield, some of his might be shortened. We don't open tomorrow, so there's no reason to push him as if we were." Taveras doesn't have a clear path to playing time at the moment but could still force his way onto the Opening Day roster with a big spring.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was encouraged after watching Oscar Taveras (ankle) do some running Wednesday.

One of the top hitting prospects in the minors, Taveras was limited to just 47 games in the minors last season due to an ankle injury which eventually required surgery. However, all indications are that he'll enter spring training at 100 percent. The Cardinals have a lot of moving parts, but Taveras could hit his way on to the Opening Day roster in the spring. Fantasy owners would be wise to keep an eye on him.

Oscar Taveras said his ankle feels "100 percent" in advance of spring training.

"With the work that I've done this week and what I've done at home with the trainer, I feel 100 percent," Taveras said Saturday through interpreter Marissa Diaz, a member of the Cardinals' community-relations department. "In Spring Training, I hope to get stronger and be back with the team." Taveras had just 174 at-bats this past season due to an ankle injury that eventually led to surgery. If healthy, Taveras will enter 2014 as one of the game's top prospects and should be given every opportunity to break camp with the Cardinals.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak believes that Oscar Taveras (ankle) will be fully healthy and ready for the beginning of spring training.

Mozeliak noted that Taveras, who is recovering from ankle surgery, would have few restrictions if any for the Grapefruit League season. The 21-year-old outfielder oozes offensive potential and could open the season as the Cardinals starting right fielder with a strong spring showing.

Oscar Taveras (ankle) was not cleared to run yet after visiting with Cardinals team doctors over the weekend.

It doesn't appear that Taveras was expected to be cleared yet, as it was just a checkup on his surgically-repaired right ankle. The Cardinals are expecting the top prospect to be ready to go for spring training. Taveras will likely open 2014 at Triple-A or in a backup role with the big club.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak indicated that Friday's acquisition of Peter Bourjos could impact the playing time of Oscar Taveras.

Mozeliak noted, "It's still intriguing for us to seem him on our club in some way, but clearly it takes a lot of pressure of him necessarily in center field." He also added that Taveras could change the complexion of a game with more power coming off the bench. While the 21-year-old still oozes offensive potential, he may not enough at-bats to be the impact fantasy performer that many were hoping he'd be.

Cardinals purchased the contract of OF Oscar Taveras from Triple-A Memphis.

Taveras likely would have been in the big leagues already if it wasn't for his ankle injury this year, so him being added to the 40-man roster is a formality. The 21-year-old is one of the top hitting prospects in the minors and could make the Opening Day roster in 2014 if he's healthy.

The Cardinals consider top prospect Oscar Taveras a potential option to take over the center field job in 2014.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said that only a couple of players -- Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday -- are written in "ink" for the 2014 lineup. Mozeliak mentioned shortstop, third base and center field as three positions that could be upgraded this offseason. Taveras missed most of the season with a high-ankle injury. The team is convinced that the former No. 1 prospect in baseball would provide the lineup with much-needed power, but it isn't yet convinced that he can shoulder the burden of playing center field. He might have to in order to crack the lineup. Matt Holliday is entrenched in left field and Allen Craig is set to move to right field if Carlos Beltran, as expected, declines his qualifying offer to sign a multi-year contract elsewhere.

Cardinals top prospect Oscar Taveras reported to the club's spring training complex in Jupiter, Florida on Sunday to begin his rehab work.

Taveras underwent season-ending ankle surgery in late August. He'll spend at least half of the offseason at the facility, working out, regaining his strength and mobility, and making up for lost time this season. He's expected to head to spring training without any limitations, and could very well crack the Cardinals' Opening Day outfield with a strong showing.

Cardinals outfield prospect Oscar Taveras underwent surgery Wednesday to address some ligament damage to his right ankle, as well as clean out cartilage.

Taveras will be in a boot for eight weeks and is not expected to play winter ball. He is, however, expected to be ready to go for spring training. The surgery obviously isn't ideal going into next season, but Taveras should still compete in spring training for an Opening Day roster spot.

Cardinals outfield prospect Oscar Taveras will undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a high right ankle sprain.

Taveras originally suffered the injury back in mid-May and has never been able to fully recover. It's a shame that we won't get to see his debut in 2013, but the ankle shouldn't be a long-term concern. Taveras will compete in spring training next year for an Opening Day roster spot. The top prospect's season ends with a .306/.341/.462 batting line with five homers and five steals over 46 Triple-A contests.

Cardinals top prospect Oscar Taveras (ankle) is "about ready" to begin playing in rehab games.

That's the word from Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who spoke this past weekend to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak. Taveras has been battling a high ankle sprain for a couple of months now. If he can get healthy and back on track offensively, he is almost certain to be called up to the major league level in September.