With the emergence of Pedro Pages, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera’s future with the organization is unknown.
Ivan Herrera Facing Uncertain Future with Cardinals
Herrera’s Time in the Majors
Herrera started the 2024 MLB season as the Cardinals’ backup catcher to Willson Contreras. Herrera, the 2023 Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year, slashed.279/.378/.340 in 54 games with the 2024 major league team. Compared to his offensive problems in past major league appearances, he was now demonstrating genuine developmental potential. Herrera, who had a lower back injury on June 22, has yet to return to the majors this season.
Since returning, he has hit.241 in 18 games with Triple-A Memphis, with three home runs and nine RBI. However, it is unclear whether Herrera will return to the majors this season.
Vote for Pedro
Pedro Pages, the Cardinals’ catcher, filled up well for Herrera. In 43 games, he has slashed.236/.333/.284. While Pages’ offensive numbers are unimpressive, he has frequently taken on a larger role in the Cardinals lineup throughout this time. In late July, he recorded an 11-game hitting streak. This stretch included several clutch singles, which were especially critical given the team’s RISP troubles. In fact, the catcher position has become critical to the Cardinals’ prospects for a Wild Card slot.
Pages has also made significant defensive contributions for the team. In 43 games, he has allowed only three passes. In compared to Contreras, his run-stopping ability has been excellent. On 46 attempts, Pages caught nine runners stealing, while Contreras caught five on 32. While this still places Pages behind the league average, it represents a significant improvement. The Cardinals, who allow the second-most stolen bases per game in the MLB, sorely need help in that area.
Herrera’s caught-stealing rate in 54 games was only 7%, far lower than Pages’ 20% and Contreras’ 15%.
Despite his offensive struggles, Pages appears to have cemented his spot on the major league squad, at least for the rest of the 2024 season.
Where Does This Leave Herrera?
In the years preceding and following the retirement of longtime Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, a seemingly endless series of prospective replacements have filled the backup position. The figures that came before Herrera, notably Carson Kelly and Andrew Knizner, all ended up with separate organizations. With Contreras’ signing, the Cardinals were regarded to have discovered a viable successor for their beloved catcher.
Herrera, who was previously the Cardinals’ No. 4 prospect, is now stuck in a positional stalemate. The Cardinals’ minor league system also includes Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks, their No. 8 and 12 prospects, respectively.
Given the current status of the catching situation in St. Louis, it appears like they will use their September call-ups for more important needs. This might include bullpen or rotation support from Michael McGreevy or Gordon Graceffo, both of whom have made spot starts for the Cardinals this season. It’s also feasible that they employ one of these call-ups to keep top prospect Victor Scott II in the majors when the injured return Michael Siani.
However, the fact that Herrera was not dealt before the trade deadline in a year when the organization was expanding its major league roster gives him some chance of staying with the organization. Nonetheless, barring injuries, his status in the Cardinals organization will be questionable into 2025.
