The St. Louis Cardinals may be riding the highs and lows of a rollercoaster season, but one question continues to dominate conversations among fans and media alike: When will Iván Herrera return behind the plate? After suffering a bone bruise over a month ago, the young catcher — once red-hot offensively — was finally activated from the injured list. But rather than stepping back into his defensive role, Herrera has only seen time as a designated hitter, leaving fans and analysts puzzled.
During a recent media availability, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol addressed the situation with cautious optimism but gave little in terms of a concrete timeline. “He will catch,” Marmol said simply when asked about Herrera’s future behind the plate. The vague response offered little clarity and only fueled speculation that either Herrera isn’t fully healthy or the club isn’t confident in his ability to handle the defensive demands just yet.
Before the injury, Herrera was among the hottest hitters in the majors, posting a staggering 1.506 OPS with four home runs in just six games. He had overtaken the starting role from Pedro Pagés due to his offensive firepower, even though Pagés was clearly stronger defensively. However, in the games since his return, Herrera has only been used as a DH against left-handed pitchers, hinting at a possible delayed return to catching duties due to lingering knee soreness or a cautious reentry plan from the team.
With Yohel Pozo, a third catcher, still on the roster, the Cardinals’ decision to keep three catchers has raised eyebrows. Luken Baker was optioned to Triple-A instead, signaling that the coaching staff may not yet be comfortable thrusting Herrera back into full catching duties. This roster move has only intensified fan frustration, especially with St. Louis struggling to stay consistent in a competitive NL Central.
On the latest episode of Cardinal Territory, beat writer Katie Woo shed more light on the situation, revealing her exchange with Marmol: “We asked Marmol if Herrera would catch. He said yes. I asked when, and again he said, ‘He will catch.’” The noncommittal response leaves the situation hanging — with fans left to guess whether the team is protecting Herrera’s long-term health or simply doesn’t believe he’s ready defensively.
Herrera has shown flashes since returning, including a two-run double and a walk, but fans are growing tired of waiting in anticipation. With each passing game, the pressure mounts for the Cardinals to either commit to Herrera behind the plate or clarify their plans.
As the team battles through injuries and inconsistency, Iván Herrera’s return as a full-time catcher could be a turning point — or a lingering question mark. Until then, fans can only hope the wait will soon be over, and the once-explosive bat returns to full form — behind the plate where he belongs.
