NEW YORK: With the St. Louis Cardinals reportedly the target of a federal investigation into the breach of a rival team’s database, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred vowed “appropriate” action once the case is resolved.

But Manfred said it was too soon to speculate on what that action would prove to be, despite US media reports on Tuesday that investigators had found evidence that the Cardinals hacked into the Houston Astros’ computer network to steal sensitive player personnel information.

“To assume that that investigation is going to produce a particular result in respect to the Cardinals, let alone jump to the use of a word like ‘cyberattack,’ we don’t know that those are the facts,” Manfred said Tuesday during a trip to Boston.

“It really doesn’t make sense for me to speculate as to how serious a problem we have. Soon enough, I think we’ll have full information as to what went on. I think you can rest assured that we will act appropriately at that time.”

Manfred’s comments came after Major League Baseball issued a statement confirming it had fully cooperated with the investigation.

The New York Times and Houston Chronicle reported that the Cardinals were the subject of the probe, with the Times reporting that law enforcement officials believe the hack was carried out by front-office employees from the Cardinals bearing a grudge against Jeff Luhnow, the Astros general manager, who worked as an executive with the St. Louis team from 2003 through the 2011 season.

The Cardinals — one of baseball’s most successful franchises over the past decade, with World Series triumphs in 2006 and 2011 — said they were “aware” of the investigation into the breach.

“The team has fully cooperated with the investigation and will continue to do so,” the team said. “Given that this is an ongoing federal investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further.”

If confirmed, it would be the first corporate espionage hacking case involving a professional sports team.

A series of high-profile companies and government agencies have been targeted by overseas hackers in recent years, but often the intent is to steal information to be used for fraud or military and trade secrets.

It also would be a blow to the reputation of the Cardinals, one of the most famous names in baseball whose 11 World Series crowns are second only to the 27 of the New York Yankees.

The Cardinals, who have appeared in the National League championship series in each of the past four seasons, currently boast the best record in baseball.

They won their fifth straight game on Tuesday, beating Minnesota 3-2.

The FBI in Houston declined to confirm or deny the probe, saying only that it “aggressively investigates” threats to public and private computer systems.

“Once our investigations are complete, we pursue all appropriate avenues to hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace,” the agency said in a statement.

It was not clear which Cardinals employees might be the focus of the probe.

The alleged target of the hack, Luhnow, is an advocate of the statistics-based approach to baseball management depicted in the Hollywood film “Moneyball,” based on the best-selling book charting the rise of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics.

Since Luhnow joined the Astros before the 2012 season, the team has gone from a doormat to a contender, this season standing atop the American League West division.

Luhnow said Tuesday the Astros’ focus would remain on the field.

“Whatever team I’ve been on has always focused on themselves and what we’re trying to do,” said Luhnow, whose Astros defeated the Rockies 8-5 on Tuesday.