ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals entered Saturday’s game with the most errors in the major leagues and they learned before the game that infield guru Jose Oquendo won’t be returning this season to help them iron out the kinks.

Oquendo said he is scheduled to get a knee replacement procedure in Florida at the end of May and will not coach in 2016.

“I was hoping I didn’t have to go through that, but it is what it is,” Oquendo said.

Oquendo was the Cardinals’ third-base coach for 17 years before the team announced near the end of spring training that his troublesome knee would cause him to miss most of the season. Nicknamed “the Secret Weapon,” Oquendo is widely credited with helping improve the team’s infield play over the years. Oquendo was one of the game’s best utility players in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Nineteen of the Cardinals’ 21 errors have been made by infielders, including five made by shortstop Aledmys Diaz and four by second baseman Kolten Wong. Oquendo said he is able to get his message to the young infielders via the Cardinals video coordinator Chad Blair.

Oquendo remains high on Diaz’s potential. The 25-year old Cuban is batting .420 and has been steadier in the field of late.

“I think all the way around, he’s going to be a plus player,” Oquendo said.

He also has been working with the team’s young minor leaguers back at the Jupiter, Florida, complex.