The St. Louis Cardinals have placed catcher Iván Herrera on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a bone bruise in his left knee. The injury occurred during the Cardinals’ doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, and Herrera is expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks.
The 24-year-old Herrera was off to a promising start in his first season as a full-time starter for the Cardinals, having posted an impressive .381 batting average with four home runs and 11 RBIs across just seven games. His strong performance was a bright spot for the Cardinals as they looked to solidify their catching position this season.
However, during the opening game of Sunday’s doubleheader in Boston, Herrera was forced to leave the game after he injured his left knee while running the bases. The injury appeared to be severe, as Herrera was unable to put weight on his leg and required assistance to leave the field. Fortunately, after undergoing testing, the results came back negative, ruling out any major structural damage such as an ACL tear. The good news for Herrera and the Cardinals was that the injury was not as catastrophic as initially feared.
“Given the way his knee buckled, I thought it might be an ACL tear,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, acknowledging the concern that arose when Herrera was unable to walk off the field under his own power. “But the tests were really good news.”
As Herrera recovers, the Cardinals will rely on Pedro Pages to take on the majority of the catching duties. Pages, who has spent time in the minors, is now expected to play regularly behind the plate in Herrera’s absence. Additionally, catcher Yohel Pozo was called up from Triple-A Memphis and was included in the starting lineup for the Cardinals’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Herrera’s absence leaves a significant gap in the Cardinals’ lineup, given his solid start to the season. The injury also raises questions about the team’s depth at the catcher position, especially considering the limited time Herrera has had as a full-time starter. However, the Cardinals are hopeful that Pages and Pozo will be able to step up and provide solid production behind the plate while Herrera recovers.
While the team awaits Herrera’s return, his early-season success has been a promising sign, and his absence will be felt, but the hope is that he will return to form once fully recovered. The injury is a setback for both Herrera and the Cardinals, but with the good news on his knee and the next-man-up mentality, the team remains optimistic for the future.