Inside the St. Louis Cardinals’ Elite and Deeply-Populated Catcher Room

St. Louis Cardinals’ Ivan Herrera, center, is congratulated after scoring in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

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While many Major League Baseball teams struggle to find and retain high-caliber catching talent, the St. Louis Cardinals have turned the position into a significant organizational strength. Boasting four highly viable, major league-caliber catchers on their 40-man roster, St. Louis possesses an exceptionally deep catcher room.

Currently, three of these talented backstops are active on the Cardinals’ 26-man major league roster, while the fourth, Leo Bernal, is developing at the Triple-A Memphis level. Furthermore, each of these catchers is 26 years old or younger, granting the Cardinals substantial team control over their core catching talent for years to come.

Here is a detailed snapshot of each of these key catchers shaping the St. Louis Cardinals organization from behind the plate.

St. Louis Cardinals Ivan Herrera=5-11, 220 pounds, Age 26, Bats Right

Ivan Herrera stands as the cornerstone of the Cardinals’ current catching staff, serving as the team’s primary starting catcher. Now in his fifth season with the organization, Herrera was originally signed as an international free agent out of Panama in 2016 for a modest $200,000 bonus.

A highly dependable contact hitter known for his disciplined approach, Herrera regularly occupies the second spot in the Cardinals’ lineup, providing a steady presence at the top of the order. His breakout performance this season has been recognized on the national stage, as the right-handed hitter earned his first career National League All-Star selection.

Herrera brings a solid dose of power to the position; last year, he blasted 19 home runs and drove in 68 runs. While he may fall slightly short of matching that home run total this season, projections suggest he remains on track to hit around 17 homers, maintaining his status as a dynamic force behind the plate.

St. Louis Cardinals Pedro Pagés=5-11, 245 pounds, Age 27, Bats Right

Pedro Pagés was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, out of Florida Atlantic University, where the organization secured his rights with a $250,000 signing bonus.

Hailing from Venezuela, Pagés established himself as a premier defensive standout during his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University. His elite glove work was highlighted by multiple accolades, including being named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, earning a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team, and receiving First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region honors.

As a reliable backup to starting catcher Ivan Herrera, Pagés is expected to see a substantial workload, potentially logging up to 200 plate appearances over the course of the season while providing high-level defensive stability.

St. Louis Cardinals Jimmy Crooks=6-0, 230 pounds, Age 25, Bats Left

Jimmy Crooks was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma. Having recently celebrated his 25th birthday, he represents yet another outstanding young option within the Cardinals’ exceptionally deep catcher room.

As the only left-handed hitter among the Cardinals’ primary major league catchers, Crooks brings a versatile dynamic to the lineup. Sharing backup duties with Pedro Pagés, Crooks could easily see around 175 plate appearances by the end of the season.

When Crooks was initially promoted to the major league level, scouting reports highlighted his well-rounded profile that seamlessly blends offensive capability, solid defensive instincts, and natural leadership. He has been lauded as a “steady and dependable” presence behind the plate, valued for his ability to “earn strikes” and establish a strong, consistent pitching rhythm.

St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Catcher Leo Bernal=6-0, 245 pounds, Age 22, Bats Both

Rounding out the Cardinals’ exceptional catching stable is switch-hitting prospect Leo Bernal, who provides a unique offensive dimension from both sides of the plate.

Similar to Ivan Herrera, Bernal was signed as an international free agent out of Panama, committing to the Cardinals for $680,000 in 2021. Now in his sixth professional season, Bernal has enjoyed an outstanding year at the Triple-A Memphis level, solidifying his status as one of the premier young backstops in the organization.

Bernal possesses a stocky, robust frame reminiscent of classic, prototypical catchers from past eras. He projects as a stronger hitter from the left side of the plate, boasting a well-rounded toolset that features a solid hit tool, impressive raw power, and dependable defensive capabilities behind the plate, including a Grade 60 arm strength.

Currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Cardinals organization by MLB.com, Bernal is widely regarded as a top-tier talent. Sports Illustrated echoed this high evaluation, noting that the Cardinals “may have struck gold” with their fifth-ranked prospect, emphasizing that Bernal is a rising star worth close monitoring.

Conclusions About St. Louis Cardinals Catching Depth:

In conclusion, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in an enviable and highly coveted position regarding depth at the catching position—one of the most challenging and specialized positions to develop in Major League Baseball.

With four highly viable, major league-caliber options to call upon at a moment’s notice, the Cardinals possess the organizational strength necessary to deploy credible, high-quality talent at this critical position, ensuring stability in the heart of the lineup for seasons to come.

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