As the 2026 season approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals have an abundance of catchers.
He is making a comeback after being sidelined by injuries in 2025. After undergoing surgery, he should be able to play behind the plate once more in 2026. Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo are two other veteran options available to the Cardinals in addition to Herrera. Jimmy Crooks, a rookie with the Cardinals, had a 15-game cup of coffee in the major leagues in 2025.
Additionally, St. Louis boasts No. 4 prospect Leonardo Bernal and No. 3 prospect Rainiel Rodriguez, though it would be surprising if either were given a big league opportunity early in 2026.
What will the Cardinals do at catcher?
In 2026, Crooks will be the most fascinating member of the group to follow. With all of the talent at the position, the Cardinals will need to decide which of the bunch to retain in the long run. He is St. Louis’ sixth-best prospect. Is Crooks that person? At the very least, John Denton of MLB.com described him as the team’s most promising option for a comeback.
“Cardinals: C Jimmy Crooks III,” Denton wrote. “Crooks, the Cards’ sixth-ranked prospect, struggled mightily in 15 MLB games in 2025, as is sometimes the case with highly anticipated rookies who get moved to the big leagues in the middle of a season. The Cardinals, however, adore his poise and outstanding defensive abilities.
Crooks only went 6-for-45 (.133) in 15 games, and on August 31 he hit his first MLB home run. In the Minor Leagues, he displayed a huge arm, and the Cards were intrigued by his ability to handle pitchers and scout reports. The coaching staff firmly believes that he can be the team’s regular catcher.
Denton explicitly stated that there is a “strong belief” that Crooks might be the team’s everyday option, which is intriguing. Crooks should see playing time in 2026. The solution should be a mix of him and Herrera with a dash of Pagés. In 98 games with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in 2025, Crooks batted.274/.337/.441 with 14 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 21 doubles. The Cardinals should see what they have in him since he has a lot of potential.
