JUPITER, Fla. • The first time Jason Motte was in a Cardinals big-league clubhouse was in 2005 when he was dressing next to outfielder So Taguchi, who had just been signed by the club. Motte was a minor-league catcher summoned to big-league camp to help warm up pitchers such as Jeff Suppan.
Ultimately, Motte, because he couldn’t hit, became a pitcher himself and went on to record the last out of the 2011 World Series and lead the National League in saves with 42 in 2012.
Tommy John elbow surgery followed after that and then stops with the Chicago Cubs, Colorado and Atlanta ensued but on Monday Motte was back in the Cardinals’ clubhouse and wearing his old No.