ST. LOUIS -- Yadier Molina has a new backup.
The St. Louis Cardinals activated switch-hitting catcher Brayan Pena from the 15-day disabled list and designated catcher Eric Fryer for assignment on Tuesday.
Pena, 34, who underwent left knee surgery the first week in April, missed the first 75 games of the 2016 season. He played 14 games in a minor league injury rehab assignment prior to his activation, batting a combined .192 (10 for 52) between Triple-A Memphis (five games) and Double-A Springfield (nine games). Pena made nine starts at catcher and two at first base during his rehab assignment.
Pena owns a career .260 batting mark with 23 home runs and 164 RBIs in 629 games with Atlanta (2005-08), Kansas City (2009-12), Detroit (2013) and Cincinnati (2014-15).
Fryer, 30, appeared in 24 games with the Cardinals, batting .368 (14 for 38) with five RBIs.
