NATCHEZ — Vidalia native Jarrett Hoffpauir has been living the Major League dream with the St. Louis Cardinals for the last two weeks, but on Saturday that dream was deferred for the time being.

Hoffpauir was called up from AAA Memphis on July 1 when Cardinals infielder Mark DeRosa went out with a wrist injury, and when DeRosa came off the disabled list Saturday, Hoffpauir was sent back down to Memphis.

While Hoffpauir was disappointed to be sent back down, the move wasn’t unexpected, his father, Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said.

“When he went up, we pretty much knew one of the big reasons was because of some injuries,” Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. “The thing is, you know it’s going to happen, but you don’t want it to.”

Hoffpauir said Jarrett met with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa Saturday, and the skipper told him he wasn’t being sent back down because of poor play, just because there wasn’t a spot for him currently on the big league team.

“LaRussa had a good talk with him and told him that it’s nothing he’s done or hasn’t done,” Hoffpauir said. “He’s done everything they’ve asked him to do. He told him to be patient, and if something happens, he’ll be back.”

Hoffpauir played in eight games for the Cardinals, drawing one start.

In 12 at-bats, he hit .250 with a double and two RBIs.

He also drew four walks and had an on-base percentage of .438.

The highlight of his Major League experience was on July 3, when he drove in the winning runs in the top of the ninth inning with a two-out single in a 7-4 Cardinals win against the Cincinnati Reds.

Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said he hopes that Jarrett’s good play at the Major League level will lead to another call-up soon.

“The good thing about being sent up, is that once you’ve been up there, it makes it easier for them to call you up again,” Hoffpauir said. “The first time is the hardest. When September call-ups come, it will make it a little better chance for him to come back up.”

But Hoffpauir said that Jarrett knows another call could come at anytime.

“He’s just another twist of an ankle or hurt wrist away,” Hoffpauir said. “He’s always got to be ready.”