St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals send Grichuk to Palm Beach, activate José Martínez from DL

Published May. 29, 2017 3:54 p.m. ET

Matt Moreno

Randal Grichuk has struggled at the plate over the last month, going 17-for-87 with one home run.

ST. LOUIS -- Randal Grichuk will work to fine-tune his game in Palm Beach, Florida after the Cardinals sent the struggling outfielder to their High-A affiliate on Monday to make room for José Martínez's return from the disabled list.

Grichuk has struggled at the plate over the last month, going 17-for-87 with one home run, resulting in a .195 batting average over that span. More recently, Grichuk has one hit in his last 16 at-bats. Grichuk sits at a .222 average on the year with 19 runs scored, five home runs and 19 runs batted in.

Martínez was swinging a hot bat before landing on the disabled list May 7 with a left groin strain. Martínez owns a .313 batting average with eight runs scored and four driven in this year. He'll likely be in line for regular at-bats with Grichuk's demotion and Dexter Fowler and Stephen Piscotty dealing with nagging injuries.

Mozeliak on Grichuk's demotion to High-A: "I really felt like we had to do something different here." #STLCards pic.twitter.com/6cRqLov2aZ
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) May 29, 2017