The Cardinals will be without one of their top offensive performers for an extended period. Catcher and designated hitter Iván Herrera was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain, which is expected to keep him out for more than just the minimum stay—potentially up to a month.
Team officials revealed that Herrera sustained a Grade 2 strain, which involves partial muscle tearing and carries a moderate recovery timeline. His absence could last anywhere from two to six weeks, according to the Cardinals (via The Athletic’s Katie Woo). In response, the team recalled infielder Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis.
This marks Herrera’s second injury stint of the season. He previously missed a month with a bone bruise in his left knee earlier this year. Despite the setbacks, Herrera has been productive when healthy, hitting .320 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .533 slugging percentage. He’s already notched a career-high eight home runs in just 171 plate appearances, starting 13 games at catcher and 28 as the designated hitter.
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The Cardinals have been carrying three catchers since Herrera’s earlier injury, allowing them to comfortably use him at DH without risking depth behind the plate. With Herrera out again, Pedro Pagés—known for his defensive skills—will take over as the primary catcher, with Yohel Pozo serving as backup. In the meantime, the DH role may rotate between Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, and Saggese.
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