Ivan

Herrera

It sounds like the Cardinals are merely being cautious here but it’s a situation fantasy managers should monitor in the coming days. The 25-year-old backstop missed time early last season with a knee issue, which limited him to mostly DH duty for the final five months of the year.

Herrera caught today for the second time this spring. It’s not totally clear yet on whether the Cardinals see him catching once or twice per week or potentially starting over Pedro Pagés the majority of the time. Either way, he’ll be in the lineup as a DH when he’s not catching.

Herrera, who is recovering from surgery last month to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, will have an opportunity to resume catching next season after knee issues limited him to DH for the final five months of last year. The 25-year-old slugging backstop is expected to be a full-go at the outset of spring training. He’s one of the better options at the catcher position heading into next year with the caveat that he won’t pick up eligibility for a couple weeks in most leagues.

The deal is now official. Pozo’s return on a split contract fortifies the Cardinals’ catching situation behind Pedro Páges with Iván Herrera ticketed for DH duty until further notice. The 28-year-old backstop posted a .637 OPS with five homers and 19 RBI in 168 appearances over a career-high 67 contests this past season.

The procedure isn’t expected to impact Herrera’s regular off-season routine and he should be a full participant when pitchers and catchers report to spring camp in February. The 25-year-old slashed an impressive .284/.373/.464 with 19 homers, 66 RBI and eight stolen bases in his first full season as the Cardinals’ starting catcher in 2025.

Herrera knocked a base hit and scored a run in the first inning, then drew a walk in the fifth before slugging a three-run homer off Joey Lucchesi in the seventh to bring the Cardinals to within two runs. The 25-year-old backstop has homered in three straight games, giving him 19 on the season while slashing .283/.375/.471 across 437 plate appearances.

In a season where the Cardinals have been fairly nondescript, Herrera has been a bright spot. His two-run homer off Justin Verlander made it a 4-4 game in the fifth, and it pushed his homer total to 18 on the season. He also drew a pair of walks, and his slash improved to a very strong .281/.372/.462. It will be another season where St. Louis isn’t going to play in October, but Herrera gives them a solid building block.

In spite of the loss, the Brewers still clinched the NL Central with the Cubs also losing today. Herrera was drilled in the arm in the bottom of the first in apparent retaliation for his backswing hitting William Contreras on Saturday. He then hit a 419-foot homer in his second plate appearance. Herrera is currently batting .281/.369/.455, which will obviously play anywhere. Still, it’d be nice if he could resume catching, at least occasionally, next year.

With Willson Contreras (shoulder) going on the IL, Burleson figures to be the starting first baseman for the Cardinals for the rest of the season. That should allow Ivan Herrera to continue to DH regularly with Pedro Pages and Jimmy Crooks splitting time at catcher. Crooks is starting on Wednesday and batting seventh.

Herrera put the Cardinals ahead as he ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Jacob Misiorowski and crushed a 394-foot (100.8 mph EV) solo shot in the top of the first inning. He also singled in the third inning then doubled and scored on an RBI knock by Willson Contreras in the fifth. The 25-year-old backstop also drew a walk in the sixth inning. Herrera also bounced into a double play in the 10th inning that allowed the go-ahead run to score. He’s now slashing .285/.373/.465 with 16 homers, 57 RBI and seven stolen bases in 395 plate appearances in what has been a very productive season at the plate.