Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera has been called up to the majors to serve as backup catcher after the injury to Willson Contreras. After beginning the season as the Cardinals backup catcher, Herrera was sent to Triple-A in June following a return from injury and was not recalled until August 25. In the meantime, Pedro Pages has cemented himself as a plus defensive and a solid offensive option for the club. This leaves Herrera’s position within the organization in limbo, barring injuries.
Roster Move: C Iván Herrera has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).
C Willson Contreras has been placed on the 10-day IL (right middle finger fracture). pic.twitter.com/mAvLrDiYvy
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 25, 2024
Contreras Injury
Since his quick return from a fractured arm, Contreras has primarily served as the Cardinals designated-hitter. This has allowed space for Pages to utilize his defensive prowess on a semi-daily basis. To the Cardinals advantage, Contreras, despite a couple brief slumps, has had an overall solid offensive season. In 2024, he has slashed .262/.468/.380 through 84 games. His fractured finger injury on a hit-by-pitch from Pablo Lopez is a major blow to the Cardinals. They currently sit 6.0 games out of a Wild-Card spot. According to Alexa Datt of Bally Sports Midwest, Contreras is due for a CT scan on August 26 to determine the extent of the injury.
Herrera’s Return
Herrera has hit remarkably well in Triple-A since being sent down. In his last 30 games, the Cardinals catcher is slashing .311/.379/.383. His game has defensive concerns, but those can be minimized by utilizing him in Contreras’ recent role as a designated hitter.
Assuming Herrera can continue his increased production at the plate, the Cardinals line-up will see no significant offensive drop-off.
This stint on the big-league roster represents a major opportunity for Herrera. Contreras has four years remaining on his contract with the Cardinals, and the organization’s #5 prospect, Jimmy Crooks, looks to be ready for major-league catching duties within the next couple of years. Group the solidity of Pages into this logjam, and Herrera appears as veritable trade bait for a struggling franchise.
His ability to produce at the plate in Contreras’ absence will be vital for his future within the organization.
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