Unlike most Major League Baseball teams, the catching position is a strength of the St. Louis Cardinals. Finding quality major league quality catchers has been challenging for many MLB teams.

The Cardinals boast four very viable, major league quality catchers on their 40-man roster. Three of those catchers are currently on the 26-man major league team. The fourth catcher, Leo Bernal is currently playing at Triple-A Memphis.

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Core Findings and Detailed Timeline

Each of the catchers are 26-years-old, or younger, meaning the Cardinals have solid team control of their catcher room. Here is a snapshot of each Cardinals catcher currently commanding an important position in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Herrera is the team’s starting catcher. Herrera is in his 5th season with the Cardinals, after being selected as an International Free Agent out of Panama in 2016, for $200,000. A dependable hitter, Herrera makes good contact at the plate, and as has noted, he generally hits 2nd in the Cardinals lineup.

Herrera made the National League All Star team this season, his first such recognition. Herrera has some pop in his bat, as last season he hit 19 homers, and drove in 68 runs. This year, Herrera may not make it to 19, but he could reach 17.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

Pedro Pages was selected Starting his baseball venture in Venezuela, Pages made quite a name for himself as a defensive stalwart at Florida Atlantic. An excellent defensive catcher, fausports.com indicated that Pages “was voted as Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, to the All-C-USA Second Team and as First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region” while he played at Florida Atlantic.

Used as a back-up to Ivan Herrera, Pages could get 200 plate appearances this year. Crooks was a 4th round selection of the Cardinals out of University of Oklahoma in 2022. Crooks just turned 25 on July 19, so he is yet another one of the fine young catchers in the Cardinals catcher room.

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The left-handed hitter among the three Cardinals big league catchers, Crooks just turned 25 on July 18. Sharing the back-up catcher’s load with Pedro Pages, Crooks could finish the season with 175 plate appearances.

calluptracker.com said this when Crooks was promoted to the Cardinals parent club: “Crooks brings a well-rounded profile that blends offense, defense, and leadership.” Crooks has been called “steady and dependable” on defense, and a catcher who “earns strikes” for his pitcher.

The Cardinals top-off their deep catching stable with a switch-hitting catcher. Shared to be a better hitter from the left side of the plate, Bernal has a stocky frame reminiscent of the prototypical catcher build of the past. Bernal has a nice combination of a very solid hit tool, power, and solid defense behind the plate.

He rates a Grade 60 for his arm strength. mlb.com has listed Bernal as the No. 7 prospect in the Cardinals organization.

In a June article in June, si.com said, “Cardinals May Have Struck Gold With No. 5 Prospect Leo Bernal.” They have a different ranking that MLB.com, but the overall story is the same; Leo Bernal is a top prospect, and one worth watching. Conclusions About St.

Louis Cardinals Catching Depth: Without question, the St. Louis Cardinals are in an enviable position regarding depth at one of the toughest positions in Major League Baseball to develop. The St.

Louis Cardinals have four very viable catcher options the team can call upon to provide very credible, Major League Baseball quality at the critical position in the center of the action.