In 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals’ “runway” season revolved around obtaining clear answers for any player who had some doubts. Is Jordan Walker going to become a big star? Could Lars Nootbaar stay healthy and fulfill the expectations listed on his Statcast page? Would Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore be included in the Cardinals’ rotation plans going forward? As the 2025 season comes to an end, the Cardinals have discovered some answers to all of these issues.
Ivan Herrera’s ability to stay a catcher with the Cardinals was one topic that seemed to have an early solution. Herrera struggled greatly to stop the running game in 2024, catching just four basestealers in 59 tries against him. Fans were optimistic that he could strengthen his arms and stay behind the plate after he participated in a throwing program at Driveline during the winter. Sadly, it didn’t pay off since in 15 tries this year, he was unable to capture a single runner. In June, he was pulled from behind the plate by the Cardinals, who usually used him as a designated hitter but occasionally moved him to the outfield. Herrera seems to have outlived his catching days.
The Cardinals plan to put Herrera behind the plate again in 2026
According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Herrera has made it clear that he wants to stay a catcher with the Cardinals, and it looks like the franchise will fulfill his request come 2026.
The Cardinals made an odd choice. Herrera has already suffered with a number of other knocks and bruises this season, including an unidentified shoulder problem that could have limited his throwing abilities, so putting him behind the plate once more is likely to increase his danger of being hurt. Removing Herrera from such a physically demanding position seems like the sensible decision to maximize his offensive output while keeping him on the field. Herrera has been one of the Cardinals’ greatest hitters this season, with a.280 average and a.816 OPS.
Herrera’s want to get better at calling games was also brought up by manager Oli Marmol, who stated that he and the Cardinals are committed to helping Herrera advance in all aspects of his catcher career. It’s unclear where that will be because the Cardinals’ customary winter training grounds in Jupiter, Florida, are being built during the offseason.
It’s also strange to see Herrera back in the harness because the Cardinals have a lot of catching depth. In order to shield Leonardo Bernal from the Rule 5 draft, the organization is probably interested in adding him to the 40-man roster in the summer. Pedro Pages, Yohel Pozo, and Jimmy Crooks are already on the 40-man roster and under team control for 2026. The Cardinals could try to deal Herrera if he proves to be a good catcher, giving up some of their young catching potential in exchange for desperately needed pitching prospects.
Since winning is not a top priority and the Cardinals are anticipated to undergo a complete rebuild next season, they believe they have nothing to lose by attempting to see if the offensively gifted 25-year-old can establish himself as a reliable option at one of the most valuable positions in the game.
