Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Sparks comeback with homer
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Herrera went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a walk and a second run scored in Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Giants.
Herrera sparked the Cardinals' comeback effort with his blast in the seventh inning. He's homered in three straight games and has his safely in 11 of his last 12 contests, going 14-for-45 (.311) with five long balls in that productive stretch. For the season, the 25-year-old is on the brink of a 20-homer campaign -- he's hit 19 of them while adding 65 RBI, 53 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .283/.375/.471 slash line through 103 games this year.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Belts key homer in win
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Herrera went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Monday's victory over the Giants.
Herrera tied the game in the fifth inning with a two-run homer off Justin Verlander, sparking a Cardinals win. The 25-year-old has been one of the brightest spots in St. Louis this year, slashing .281/.372/.462 with 13 doubles, 18 homers and 62 RBI in 102 games. While he showed promise with an .800 OPS in 72 games last season, Herrera's ability to maintain strong rate stats while boosting his overall production in 2025 makes this breakout especially encouraging.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Goes deep in win
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Herrera went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 5-1 win over Milwaukee. He was also hit by a pitch.
On Saturday, Herrera told Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest that he would undergo a minor procedure in the offseason to address an elbow issue that has hindered him in making throws behind the plate, which has been a factor in the Cardinals electing not to use him at catcher since he returned from a stint on the injured list July 13. He made four starts in left field from July 28 through Aug. 13 but has otherwise been used exclusively at designated hitter. He should continue to finish out the season as the Cardinals' primary DH, and Herrera was able to snap out of a minor power drought by connecting on his 17th long ball of the season in the third inning. He had failed to record an extra-base hit in any of his previous six starts entering Sunday.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Will prep as catcher this offseason
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Herrera will prepare exclusively as a catcher this offseason, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Herrera last saw action at catcher June 19, as he's been used as a full-time designated hitter since rejoining the Cardinals on July 13 following a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. The move to the DH-only role was made in order to help keep Herrera healthy, but it was also due to his defensive shortcomings. Per Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Herrera will undergo elbow surgery this offseason to correct an issue that's prevented him from getting his arm in the proper position to make throws to second base. In addition to recovering from surgery, Herrera will focus on improving his game calling. Marmol noted that Herrera's chances of sticking at catcher will "play out" during spring training, but the team is heading into the offseason expecting him to factor into the picture behind the plate. Herrera will likely finish 2025 with 14 games played (13 starts) at catcher, so he won't have eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues entering next season. However, he should have a good chance to regain that eligibility early on in 2026.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Belts another home run
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Herrera went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, a double and an additional run scored during the Cardinals' 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Herrera got things started early with a solo homer off Jacob Misiorowski in the first inning. It was Herrera's 16th home run of the season, five of which have come in 11 games since Sept. 1. Over that span, he has gone 11-for-39 (.282) with one steal, nine runs and seven RBI.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Smacks two-run homer in victory
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Herrera went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Athletics.
That's now two homers in as many days to open the month of September for Herrera, who has three long balls in his past five outings. The 25-year-old backstop also has an active eight-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .375 with six RBI and five runs scored. Herrera's OPS sits at a career-best .818 for the campaign as well.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Three RBI on Tuesday
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Herrera went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a steal in Tuesday's win over the Marlins.
Herrera drove in the first three runs of the game for the Cardinals with a single to right in the first and another one in the second. It was his first multi-RBI game since July 24, and he's now hit safely in seven of his last eight games. Herrera's second-inning steal was his sixth theft of the season, passing his previous best of five from 2024. The 25-year-old is slashing .289/.366/.440 with 10 homers, 46 RBI, 31 runs and a 28:64 BB:K in 303 plate appearances.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Homer, steal in win
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Herrera went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Monday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
Herrera has logged three straight multi-hit efforts, but the homer was just his second since June 15. The 25-year-old missed about a month in that span due to a hamstring injury, but he has settled in as the Cardinals' main designated hitter since his return just before the All-Star break. He's also made three starts in left field over the last week, which gives him another path to playing time if he can learn the position on the fly. He's hit well enough to stay in the lineup regularly -- Herrera is batting .310 with an .880 OPS, 10 homers, 40 RBI, 28 runs scored and four steals over 247 plate appearances this season.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Making first start in outfield
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Herrera will start in left field and bat second in Monday's game against the Marlins.
Herrera has been taking pregame outfield reps in recent weeks, but he'll be making his first-ever professional start in the outfield Monday. All 11 of his previous starts this month since he returned from a hamstring injury had come at designated hitter.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Swipes two bags
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Herrera went 1-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
Herrera singled in the first inning and drew a walk in the third. He would swipe second base after each of those plate appearances. It was Herrera's first appearance since June 19 after a stint on the injured list for a hamstring issue, so the stolen bases were a very positive sign. He owns a strong .320/.394/.529 slash line with three stolen bases and 16 extra-base hits through 175 plate appearances.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Beginning rehab assignment
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Herrera (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Herrera will serve as Memphis' designated hitter for the next four days. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted that Herrera's catching will be limited in the second half due to two injuries to the same (left) leg, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Barring any setbacks, Herrera will rejoin the Cardinals' active roster for the first game after the All-Star break and will be the team's primary DH. He's been shelved since late June with a left hamstring strain.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Rehab games coming this week
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Herrera (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday or Friday and expects to be activated from the 10-day injured list upon resumption of play after the All-Star break, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Coming back from a strained left hamstring, Herrera ran the bases at full speed over the weekend and is able to do all other baseball activities. He will presumably remain on his rehab assignment with Memphis through early next week before returning to the Cardinals' active roster coming out of the All-Star break. Herrera was operating as the team's primary designated hitter before getting hurt, and he will be an everyday player between DH and catcher, once activated.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Won't return until second half
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Herrera (hamstring) may begin a rehab assignment before the All-Star break, but he is not expected to be activated until after the break, per president of baseball operations John Mozeliak on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The fact that Herrera could start rehab games before the break makes it seem like he could be activated at or around the start of the second half, which begins July 18 in Arizona. Pedro Pages has been handling the bulk of the work behind the plate for the Cardinals in Herrera's absence.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Getting rest in Game 2
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Herrera is not in the lineup for the second game Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.
Herrera started the previous 34 games but will take a seat for the second half of Thursday's twin bill. He went 2-for-4 with a run in the Cardinals' 5-4 win over the White Sox in the first game of the doubleheader.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Drives in four runs
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Herrera went 2-for-5 with four RBI in Tuesday's win over the White Sox.
Herrera collected a pair of two-RBI singles, and his night could have been even bigger if not for Michael Taylor robbing him of a home run to lead off the top of the fifth inning. The 25-year-old has now driven in 36 runs in just 41 games for the Cardinals this season. With Brendan Donovan moving up to the leadoff spot, Herrera appears to be cementing himself as St. Louis' new No. 3 hitter against right-handed pitching.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Stays hot with four RBI
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Herrera went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-4 win over the Royals.
Despite playing just 13 games so far, Herrera already has a trio of three-hit performances in 2025. Over his first 50 plate appearances, the 24-year-old backstop is slashing a robust .419/.480/.907 with five home runs, six doubles, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored. Although those figures are unsustainable, Herrera is certainly worth a look in the majority of mixed leagues for those in need of help at catcher.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Four hits in doubleheader
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Herrera went 4-for-8 with a double and two runs scored as the Cardinals split Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Phillies.
Herrera missed over a month due to a left knee bone bruise. Since his return last week, he's gone 7-for-18 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and four runs scored, including an impressive performance in Wednesday's doubleheader. He was the designated hitter in the matinee game before returning to catching duties in the nightcap. He's had a hot bat in limited action this season, hitting .385 with five homers, 14 RBI, 10 runs scored, four doubles and no stolen bases over 12 contests.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Getting breather Saturday
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Herrera isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Washington.
Herrera went 1-for-4 with two RBI in his return from the injured list Friday, and he'll get a day off Saturday as the Cardinals look to ease him back into regular action. Pedro Pages will start behind the plate and bat eighth.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Activated from injured list
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The Cardinals reinstated Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
The 24-year-old backstop has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after a six-game rehab assignment, during which he went 9-for-23 with a homer, a double and two stolen bases. The two steals are an especially encouraging sign that Herrera has fully recovered from the knee bruise that has sidelined him for the past month. Herrera clubbed four homers in seven games prior to the injury and will reclaim the starting job behind the plate, with Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo serving as secondary options.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Expected back Friday
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The Cardinals are expected to activate Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's contest against the Nationals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Herrera has gone 9-for-23 with one home run and one double in six rehab games with Triple-A Memphis, splitting reps between catcher and designated hitter. Luken Baker has been optioned to Memphis, which frees up Herrera to DH against left-handers in addition to catching as the Cardinals ease him back into action following a month-long absence with a left knee bone bruise.
