DENVER—After helping pitch Team USA into a berth in next week’s Olympic Games, Cardinals prospect Matthew Liberatore was at Coors Field starting the Futures Game on Sunday and hurling a scoreless first in the National League's 8-3 win instead of trying for gold in Tokyo.
The Cardinals wanted him to stay in the states. After all, they might have need for Liberatore before the Games are over.
“It would have been a cool experience,” said the 21-year-old Liberatore, whose Olympic path was blocked when the Cardinals didn't release him to the Olympic squad, “But at the end of the day, it’s one of those uncontrollables and I try to focus on what I can control.