The St. Louis Cardinals recalled right-handed pitcher Maikel Cleto (my-KULL CLAY-toe), 23, and optioned pitchers Chuckie Fick and Brandon Dickson to Triple-A Memphis.
Cleto made 22 relief appearances in Memphis posting a 1-1 record with a 4.50 ERA and struck out 34 over 26 innings for a team leading 11.8 strikeouts/9 IP.
The right-hander was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in December 2010 in exchange for infielder Brendan Ryan. Cleto appeared in three Major League games during the 2011 season compiling an 0-0 record with a 12.46 ERA over 4.1 innings with six strikeouts.
Dickson made two relief appearances totaling 2.1 innings and allowed one unearned run. Fick made two appearances and recorded a 5.40 ERA over 1.2 innings with both outings came last weekend against Philadelphia.
Cleto will join the team in New York and wear uniform No. 63. The Cardinals roster stands at 24 currently. There will be additional roster moves tomorrow, but they are still to be determined.
