For the first time since 2023, the St. Louis Cardinals are sending more than one player to the All-Star Game. The Cardinals’ four All-Star representatives are invited to the Midsummer Classic for the first time in their careers. They are not only deserving but also highlight both individual and organizational steps forward.
This year, St. Louis will send three players – right fielder Jordan Walker, catcher/designated hitter Iván Herrera, and closer Riley O’Brien – to this summer’s All-Star festivities in Philadelphia. Plus, National League manager Dave Roberts invited Cardinals skipper Oliver Marmol to be a part of his coaching staff during the game.
These four have all played crucial roles in St. Louis entering the break with a 50-45 record, exceeding the expectations of the entire baseball world. What did they accomplish in the first half, and what does it say about them and the organization?
The Cardinals’ Four All-Star Representatives
Jordan Walker
Not only will Walker indulge in his first career All-Star nod this week, but he is also participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday. If you were to tell Cardinals fans that news before the regular season, especially after he hit .205 with a .528 OPS during spring training, they wouldn’t have believed you.
Selected as an All-Star reserve in the outfield, the 24-year-old has fully broken out in his fourth big league season. Walker is slashing .294/.354/.532 through his first 92 games, good for a 143 wRC+. He has crushed 22 homers, driven in an MLB-leading 74 runs, and stolen 13 bases on 18 attempts. Showcasing his five-tool skillset even more, Walker has logged eight outfield assists and four defensive runs saved.
His production to this point has been astounding, especially when factoring in his low points during the early years of his career. After collecting a hit in his first 12 major league games back in 2023, Walker has struggled immensely at the plate. Over the previous two years specifically, he totaled an OPS+ of 68, striking out 33% of the time and frequently rolling over to the left side when he did make contact.
But Walker has been a completely different player in what appeared to be a boom-or-bust season for him this spring. He is being more selective, getting the ball in the air, and seems increasingly more confident on the diamond. The work he’s done to improve, both offensively and defensively, can’t be understated. Walker is playing like the franchise player his tools and potential called for when he rose through St. Louis’ system as one of the top prospects in the league. Now, Walker gets to enjoy being an All-Star for the first time, with a future that suddenly is as bright as can be.
Riley O’Brien
At 31 years old, O’Brien is one of the few All-Stars every year who has trodden a tumultuous path. The Cardinals are O’Brien’s fourth organization, and he has finally found a home in the back of St. Louis’ bullpen. In 39 appearances, he has collected an NL-best 24 saves, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.11 WHIP so far. O’Brien’s sinker and sweeper are each plus pitches, and he has kept the ball in the yard and on the ground in 2026.
Like nearly every other reliever, O’Brien had a rough stretch in the first half, but for the most part, he has been extremely reliable as the Cards’ closer. He’s building on momentum he created last season, when he sported a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings and racked up six saves after Ryan Helsley was dealt to the New York Mets at the trade deadline.
The National League leader in saves is headed to the All-Star Game ⭐️
Congrats to Riley O’Brien on being named to the National League All-Star Team! pic.twitter.com/0GsLw26LlL
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 7, 2026
Picked as a replacement in the flurry of pitchers dropping out of the Midsummer Classic, O’Brien will have his first All-Star experience after appearing in parts of five big league seasons. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, O’Brien has bounced from the Sunshine State to Cincinnati to Seattle in his career. The Mariners shipped him to St. Louis for cash considerations in November 2023, and now, he’s an All-Star.
Iván Herrera
Recognized for his production at the plate, Herrera was named an All-Star replacement for Shohei Ohtani as a designated hitter. The 26-year-old righty has hit above league-average once again this season, notching a 123 wRC+ through 95 games. If he keeps that up, it will be the fourth straight season in which Herrera has finished with a wRC+ of 120 or better.
Consistently getting on base in the two-hole, Herrera has posted a .384 on-base percentage, good for 12th in all of baseball. That mark has benefited from Herrera taking 24 beanballs – by far the most in the league – but his 12% walk rate shows it’s no fluke when he does reach base. He has clubbed 11 home runs, tallied 40 RBI, and swiped five bags without being caught.
Ivan Herrera is expected to be named to the National League All-Star team as a replacement for Shohei Ohtani. Congrats, Ivan! pic.twitter.com/YXoWdbIOIq
— Dealin’ the Cards (@DealinTheCards) July 10, 2026
Although he has room for improvement in the power department and in throwing out basestealers, Herrera is a dependable bat in the middle of the Cards’ lineup who is continuing to mature. Hailing from Panama City, Herrera making his way to Philadelphia after signing to the Cardinals organization as an international free agent in 2016 is surely rewarding.
Oliver Marmol
Three years ago, St. Louis was in the midst of its worst season in 30 years, and plenty of people were calling for Marmol’s head as manager. Fast forward, and the 40-year-old skipper sits as the fifth-longest tenured manager in the sport, leading the youngest team in MLB into the thick of the NL playoff race.
After the Cardinals’ abysmal 71-91 finish in 2023, Marmol has helped keep things afloat in St. Louis despite a lack of talent and production from stars. Now, with improved direction and cohesion under first-year President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, Marmol has thrived with a young squad that seems to better fit his style and personality. Looking past blanket wins and losses – St. Louis went 161-164 over the last two seasons – Marmol and the Cardinals have consistently outperformed their run differential since 2024, winning plenty of close games and getting the most out of a less-than-star-studded bullpen.
Bloom had every opportunity to relieve Marmol of his duties once the previous President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, officially stepped down at the end of the 2025 season. Instead, Bloom handed Marmol a two-year extension. The early returns on the two’s alignment are glowing, which couldn’t be more signified by the three-time World Series Champion Roberts wanting Marmol on his bench as one of the Cardinals’ four All-Star representatives on Tuesday.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
