Yohel

Pozo

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.

Pozo was non-tendered last week despite not being eligible for arbitration last week, so this will probably be a minor league deal that keeps him off the 40-man roster. He could then compete to keep his spot as a third catcher/pinch-hitter.

The free-swinging Pozo hit .231/.262/.375 in 168 plate appearances for the Cardinals last season. The team could have kept him around if it again wanted Iván Herrera to mostly DH next year, but with Herrera at least technically available to catch and top prospect Jimmy Crooks ready to contribute, he did seem expendable.

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.

Pozo took a foul ball off his facemask during Thursday’s game for the Cardinals, and St. Louis will recall Jimmy Crooks from Triple-A Memphis to take his place on the roster. Pozo should be back in the early portion of September, but will need to clear protocol in order to do so.

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.

It sounds like the hard-hitting 25-year-old backstop will remain there at least through the weekend and be ready to join the Cardinals coming out of next week’s All-Star break. Herrera was given a timeline of two-to-six weeks when he landed on the injured list on June 20, so it seems like that timetable tracks. His return will likely push Pedro Pages back into a reserve role while costing Yohel Pozo his spot on the active roster.

The Cardinals scored five times off Brad Keller in the eighth, with Pozo delivering the big blow after hitting for Pedro Pagés. Pozo is batting .329/.333/.506 with three homers in 81 plate appearances since being called up Apr. 7. The Cardinals love Pagés’ defense too much to make a switch behind the plate, but at least they’ve been willing to make the late-game change when they need offense.

The 27-year-old backstop was involved in a collision with Reds center fielder TJ Friedl at the plate where he sustained the wrist injury. It sounds like he was able to avoid any significant injuries though. He should be considered day-to-day.

Pozo, 27, returns to the majors for the first time since 2021, when he hit .284/.312/.378 with the Rangers. A very aggressive hitter, Pozo has struck out just nine percent of the time and walked four percent of the time during his minor league career. He’ll serve as Pedro Pagés’ backup until Iván Herrera returns.