{"id":92211,"date":"2024-12-16T19:27:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T00:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=92211"},"modified":"2024-12-16T19:27:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T00:27:52","slug":"cardinals-competition-catcher-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/16\/cardinals-competition-catcher-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals Set for Two-Way Competition at Catcher in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Willson Contreras<\/a> moving positions<\/a>, a pair of young St. Louis Cardinals will compete for the starting role at catcher in 2025.<\/p>\n

The players in question, Iv\u00e1n Herrera<\/a> and Pedro Pag\u00e9s<\/a>, are 24 and 26, respectively, with only a combined 164 games of major-league experience between them. Nevertheless, in committing Contreras to the open first base\/designated hitter position, the Cardinals have signaled a major vote of confidence in the capabilities of a Herrera\/Pag\u00e9s platoon to handle duties behind the plate next season.<\/p>\n

Cardinals Set for Competition at Catcher in 2025<\/h2>\n

Herrera’s Potential for Power<\/h3>\n

Herrera, once the Cardinals’ fourth-best organizational prospect, has been touted as having plus power and contact at his position since the early days of his professional career. In 2023, in 83 games with Triple-A Memphis, Herrera slashed .297\/.500\/.451 with 10 HR and 60 RBI. However, due to the free agent signing<\/a> of Willson Contreras and the presence of Andrew Knizner<\/a> as backup catcher, Herrera saw very limited playing time until 2024, when the Cards named him backup catcher for Opening Day.<\/p>\n

A strong offensive start for Herrera was then derailed by a back injury in June, which had him sent back to Triple-A for a rehab stint. The team didn’t recall<\/a> him until August 25, in the wake of Contreras’ season-ending injury on a hit-by-pitch.<\/p>\n

In 72 games at the major-league level in 2024, Herrera slashed .301\/.428\/.372. He hit the fastball especially well, batting .310 against the pitch, and, although he did not have enough plate appearances to qualify for league-wide offensive rankings, he showed solid numbers in many Statcast categories which measure production at the plate.<\/p>\n

Pag\u00e9s’ Stability and Defense<\/h3>\n

However, the emergence of defensive-minded catcher Pedro Pag\u00e9s interrupted<\/a> Herrera’s trajectory toward the Cardinals’ vacant catcher position.\u00a0Pag\u00e9s took on major starting duties during the 2024 season following Contreras’ gruesome<\/a> early-season injury. In Contreras’ absence, Pag\u00e9s displayed pitch-framing and defensive abilities that the Cardinals have sorely missed since the retirement of Yadier Molina<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even upon Contreras’ return from injury, St. Louis often called upon Pag\u00e9s to start at catcher, with Contreras serving as designated hitter. While his offensive game lagged, slashing a mere .238\/.376\/.281 through 68 games, Pag\u00e9s’ long stint as the Cardinals’ main catcher put the team’s confidence in him on full display. A spattering of clutch home runs, including a two-home-run performance on Father’s Day, also endeared him to Cardinals fans in a major way.<\/p>\n

\n

Second homer of the weekend and of his career for Pedro Pages.<\/p>\n

He talked about how special it was to hit his first on Friday with his dad in attendance. Now, he hits his second on Father\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

Great stuff for a guy who\u2019s spent a lot of time in Memphis. pic.twitter.com\/KIwy8ugjEr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) June 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n