The Cardinals are placing third baseman David Freese on the disabled list to begin the season, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Tuesday. Freese has a back injury.
St. Louis will return Ryan Jackson to the major-league roster to take Freese's place. The third baseman, expected to begin the year as the starter, underwent an MRI Monday which gave the Cardinals encouraging results.
Unfortunately, after Freese was given an anti-inflammatory injection, it appears the team has decided to shelve him. He'll have his DL stay retroactive to March 23 and should be able to return shortly into the regular season, if healthy.
Jackson will be on the roster until Freese is healthy enough to return. The 25-year-old is hitting .136 this spring over 22 at-bats. He played in 13 games for the Red Birds last year and hit .118 over 17 at-bats without an RBI.