The St. Louis Cardinals have placed catcher Ivan Herrera on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a hamstring tear. In response, the team has called up Thomas Saggese to the majors ahead of their upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Herrera’s absence is a major blow for the Cardinals, as he had become one of the team’s most potent offensive weapons in the heart of the lineup. Over 171 plate appearances, he was slashing .320/.392/.533 with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, 22 runs scored, and a stolen base. This is Herrera’s second trip to the IL in 2025—he previously missed time earlier in the season due to a knee injury.
With Ivan Herrera sidelined, Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo are expected to share catching duties for the Cardinals. This shift could also lead to more at-bats at designated hitter for Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson.
On Friday, the Cardinals recalled Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis. The 23-year-old filled in admirably during Masyn Winn’s absence in April, hitting .341 with a .364 on-base percentage and .512 slugging over 14 games, including one home run. Despite his strong performance, limited playing time led to his return to Memphis, where he’s posted an impressive .836 OPS in 185 plate appearances.
Now, with Herrera out due to a hamstring injury, Saggese may have a better chance to carve out a consistent role in the lineup as St. Louis looks to keep his bat in the mix.
Before sweeping the Chicago White Sox, the Cardinals had managed just one win in their previous eight games. They’re now tied for second in the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers, trailing the division-leading Chicago Cubs.
With Ivan Herrera sidelined by a torn hamstring, St. Louis brought up Thomas Saggese from Triple-A. Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo are expected to split time behind the plate, while the lineup adjustment could open up additional DH opportunities for Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson. Saggese, who impressed during a brief earlier stint in the majors, may now see more consistent at-bats as the Cardinals look to remain competitive in the division.
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