ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals suffered a blow to their lineup this week as catcher Ivan Herrera is expected to miss 2 to 6 weeks with a hamstring strain, the team announced Saturday.
Herrera sustained the injury while running the bases during Friday’s series opener, appearing to grab at his right leg as he rounded first base. He was removed from the game immediately and underwent imaging tests that confirmed a moderate strain.
“It’s tough news,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Ivan’s been a big part of what we’re doing both behind the plate and with the bat. Losing him for any stretch hurts, but we’re optimistic he’ll make a strong recovery.”
The 24-year-old backstop had been enjoying a breakout campaign in his first full season as the Cardinals’ primary catcher. He was hitting .281 with 5 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .788 OPS through 59 games, establishing himself as one of the more consistent offensive performers on the team.
Herrera’s injury comes at a difficult time for St. Louis, which has been working to climb back into the National League Central race. The club is already dealing with injuries to key players and now faces additional pressure to manage without its rising star behind the plate.
Veteran catcher Pedro Pagés was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to fill the roster spot and is expected to split time with backup catcher Willson Contreras, who recently returned from his own stint on the injured list.
“We have full confidence in Pedro and Willson to hold things down,” Marmol said. “But we’re going to miss Ivan’s energy and the chemistry he’s built with our pitchers.”
The Cardinals have not specified whether Herrera will be placed on the 10-day or 15-day injured list, but with a recovery timeline of up to six weeks, an extended absence seems likely.
As St. Louis battles through the midsummer stretch, the club hopes to stay afloat long enough to welcome Herrera back for a potential postseason push.
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