Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera is headed to the injured list with a left knee injury, as manager Oliver Marmol told ESPN’s Buster Olney during Sunday night’s game against the Red Sox. The team was relieved to learn from imaging that there was no structural damage. Herrera sustained the injury during the third inning of the first game in Sunday’s doubleheader, limping after running out a foul ball by Luken Baker. He needed help from Marmol and head trainer Adam Olsen to leave the field.
Footage from the Cardinals’ broadcast showed Herrera unable to bear weight on his left leg as he made his way off the field and into the dugout. The 24-year-old had been one of the team’s early-season standouts, posting a .381 average with a .458 OBP and a 1.048 slugging percentage. In just 22 plate appearances, he had already hit four home runs and driven in 11 runs. Notably, he made franchise history last week by becoming the first Cardinals catcher to hit three home runs in a single game. His 11 RBIs are currently tied for eighth in MLB.
#STLCards Ivan Herrera needed help walking off the field. He went from 1st to 3rd on a base hit. Once the inning ended he needed help getting back to the dugout https://t.co/mFCuhvDXu8 pic.twitter.com/3dcqJg0Cnb
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 6, 2025
With Herrera sidelined, Pedro Pagés is expected to take over as the everyday catcher. Pagés replaced Herrera in game one and went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, though he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in game two.
A lingering question is who will serve as the backup catcher. Last offseason, the team announced that Willson Contreras would mostly play first base and serve as a designated hitter in 2025. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said it was “unlikely” Contreras would catch much moving forward.
A double-double for Pedro! pic.twitter.com/7VIH5giPDN
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 6, 2025
Herrera’s absence leaves Pagés as the only catcher on the 40-man roster. However, Marmol confirmed that Yohel Pozo will meet the team in Pittsburgh. Since Pozo is not currently on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals will need to make a corresponding move when Herrera is officially placed on the IL. That transaction is expected to happen before Monday afternoon, when the Cardinals face the Pirates at 5:40 p.m. CT.
