The St. Louis Cardinals are riding high after a dramatic comeback win on opening day against the Tampa Bay Rays. The team has taken a new direction this season, and while they may not contend, they at least have hope for the future and will give young players opportunities.
Ivan Herrera began the 2025 season as the Cardinals’ catcher, but eventually became the full-time designated hitter after a knee injury. The Cardinals did give him some opportunities to catch in spring training, however.
According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat, the Cardinals are giving him a fresh opportunity at the position for their second game of the season. He was placed in the the lineup batting in the No. 2 hole and playing catcher for Saturday’s game.
Herrera slashed .284/.373/.464 last season with 19 home runs, 66 RBI and an .837 OPS despite making two trips to the injured list. If he can stay healthy, he can be a solid piece in their lineup.
This would be Herrera’s first chance to catch of the 2026 season, and now is a good time for him to prove that he can handle being behind the plate. The Cardinals have two other catchers on their roster in Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo.
It will be interesting to see how Herrera fares this season behind the plate for St. Louis.
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