The St. Louis Cardinals have activated catcher Iván Herrera from the 10-day injured list, the team announced Friday. In a corresponding move, first baseman and designated hitter Luken Baker was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.
Herrera, 24, had been off to a strong start before sustaining a bone bruise in his left knee. In just seven games, he hit .381 with four home runs and 11 RBIs, showing promising offensive production in limited action.
Upon his return, Herrera was slotted into the designated hitter role and batted sixth in Friday night’s lineup. His presence adds depth and power to the Cardinals’ batting order as they work to climb in the standings.
With Herrera back, the Cardinals will carry three catchers for the time being — Pedro Pagés, Yohel Pozo, and Herrera himself. The move gives the team flexibility behind the plate and allows them to manage Herrera’s workload carefully.
“For the next couple of weeks, we can ease our way into DH’ing him, catch him, DH him,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, noting they’ll gradually return Herrera to regular catching duties as he continues to recover.
