St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera has been placed on the 10-day injured list after sustaining a bone bruise in his left knee. The injury occurred during the opening game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, and it’s expected to sideline him for approximately four weeks. Herrera, 24, had been off to an impressive start in his first season as a full-time starter, quickly becoming one of the bright spots for the Cardinals. His early performance had fans excited as he hit .381 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in just seven games.
The injury occurred when Herrera, after running the bases, was unable to put weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the field. This left both fans and teammates concerned, as the severity of the injury wasn’t immediately clear. Thankfully, after undergoing testing, the results came back negative, ruling out an ACL tear, which had initially been feared. “It was really good news,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, relieved that the injury wasn’t as serious as initially thought. “The way his knee buckled, I thought it might be an ACL tear.”
With Herrera sidelined, the Cardinals are turning to Pedro Pages, who will take over the bulk of the catching duties in Herrera’s absence. Pages, a young and talented prospect, will have the opportunity to prove himself in a more significant role. To further bolster the catching depth, Yohel Pozo was called up from Triple-A Memphis and was inserted into the starting lineup for the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pozo’s call-up signals the team’s confidence in his abilities to contribute as they navigate this setback.
Herrera’s injury is a significant blow to the Cardinals, as he had shown great promise in his first season as the team’s primary catcher. His ability to both handle the pitching staff and contribute offensively made him an integral part of the lineup. His bat, particularly, had provided an early spark for the Cardinals, with four homers and a high batting average. His absence will put extra pressure on Pages and Pozo, who will need to step up and keep the team competitive during his recovery.
The Cardinals will have to rely on their depth and the leadership of manager Marmol to weather this injury. Herrera’s injury may have dampened the team’s spirits temporarily, but with the good news that it wasn’t a more serious knee injury, there is hope for a quick return. For now, the team is focusing on getting the most out of their backup catchers while keeping an eye on Herrera’s recovery timeline. Fans are hopeful that, when he returns, Herrera can pick up right where he left off in his breakout season.
