Jimmy

Crooks

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.

The Cardinals are keeping Jimmy Crooks on the roster for now, so Pozo might spend more time pinch-hitting than catching. However, he does have an opening these next few days at first base while Willson Contreras is suspended.

Any fantasy managers hoping for one player to emerge will be disappointed, which will likely make it hard to roster either player for the final month of the season. Crooks will start on Tuesday for the first time at Busch Stadium with Miles Mikolas on the mound.

Crooks took lefty reliever Sam Moll deep to right field for his first career hit in the seventh inning of this one. The 24-year-old backstop is an interesting fantasy prospect to monitor over the final month based on his offensive production in the upper minors over the last two seasons.

Crooks is making his first career start on Sunday after being brought up from Triple-A Memphis prior to Friday’s series opener. The 24-year-old backstop is an interesting fantasy prospect to monitor based on his offensive production in the upper minors over the last two seasons. There may be some speed bumps as he adjusts to life in the big leagues, but there’s an opportunity for him with the Cardinals since it looks like Iván Herrera’s future will be elsewhere on the diamond in an effort to keep him healthy.

Crooks is up with Yohel Pozo placed on the seven-day concussion injured list. The 24-year-old has a chance to be the Cardinals’ catcher of the future, and those desperate for backstop help wouldn’t be insane for giving him a shot for this final month of the regular season. Just be prepared for bitter with the better.

Crooks and Prieto will get a chance to make their MLB debuts in the series against Cincinnati. They will replace Alec Burleson; who is hitting the injured list because of his ailing wrist, and Yohel Pozo due to a head-related injury. Both have a chance to be regulars someday in the majors, but their fantasy value for 2025 will be limited.

The Cardinals bypassed Crooks in favor of Yohel Pozo after Iván Herrera got hurt, but that was understandable, since they want Pedro Pagés catching most of the time. The 23-year-old Crooks is hitting .286/.333/.536 to open this year after coming in at .321/.410/.498 in Double-A last season. He’s another potential starting catcher for a team that already has three (even if they don’t want to count Willson Contreras) at the major league level.

Crooks is one of the more intriguing catching prospects for dynasty purposes after batting .321/.410/.498 with 11 homers and four steals in 90 games last year for Double-A Springfield. The 23-year-old backstop is on the doorstep of the majors and could wind up getting a look at some point this season if Iván Herrera or Pedro Pagés miss time due to injury.