Cardinals’ Ivan Herrera Emerges as Team’s Next Superstar

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A decade has passed since the St. Louis Cardinals lost rising star Oscar Taveras, and the franchise has spent that time searching for a homegrown talent to fill that void. This year, it appears that the answer to their quest may have been right under their noses all along: catcher Ivan Herrera.

Herrera made his Major League debut last season at 22 years old. He played in 11 games but struggled to find his footing. After a brief stint, the Cardinals brought in veteran Willson Contreras. However, since the start of the 2023 season, Herrera has proven himself as a remarkable hitter with a slash line of .311/.388/.475 across his recent appearances.

His offensive performance so far has been impressive, emerging with a 143 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), placing him ahead of big names like Bryce Harper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Despite the small sample size of 340 plate appearances, various advanced metrics suggest Herrera is a legitimate talent. His walk rate ranks in the top 25% of hitters in baseball, and his low strikeout rate indicates a disciplined approach at the plate.

Further digging reveals that Herrera stands out for hard-hit balls, ranking 38th out of 445 batters with at least 300 plate appearances in HardHit%, showcasing his ability to make impactful contact. His current Hard-hit percentage of 51.6% and a home run-to-fly ball ratio of 62.5% are eye-popping statistics that have contributed to the excitement.

“He’s hitting better than Aaron Judge in this small stretch,” noted a Cardinals analyst. While it’s unlikely Herrera maintains this level of production indefinitely, his previous numbers from 2023 and 2024 show he can still be a high-level hitter moving forward.

While much of the focus has been on prospects like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, Herrera’s talent has often been overlooked. Discussion surrounding Herrera has included his need to bolster arm strength defensively, yet his offensive achievements warrant equal attention.

Observers within the organization suggest that Herrera is deserving of a more prominent batting position. Currently, he has been positioned lower in the batting order compared to players like Nolan Arenado, who may not be producing at levels that justify their order placement.

If Herrera can continue developing behind the plate and maintain—or even improve—his offensive output, he has the potential to become one of the elite players in baseball, regardless of whether he remains a catcher or transitions to another position. The hope remains that Herrera is the cornerstone talent the team has been missing since the untimely passing of Oscar Taveras.