The St. Louis Cardinals are enjoying a well-deserved day off after dominating the Los Angeles Angels 12-5 in the series finale on Wednesday at Busch Stadium.
The game saw some tense moments, especially after Cardinals ace Sonny Gray gave up a game-tying grand slam to Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe in the top of the 7th inning. However, St. Louis responded with two runs in the bottom of the 7th to even the score at 5-5, then sealed the win with seven more runs in the 8th.
The Cardinals’ offense is off to an impressive start, and Wednesday’s high-scoring game serves as a reminder that this team should not be overlooked. Yet, one player’s performance in the finale stood out, especially with his words after the game.
“It’s family, you know, they saw me growing up – my mom and dad supported me all the way,” said Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera, who hit an extraordinary three home runs against the Angels – a feat never before accomplished by a St. Louis backstop. “It wasn’t easy. I almost gave up on playing pro baseball, but I chose the Cardinals over money because Yadier Molina was here. For me, he’s still one of the best catchers in the game. I try to emulate his defense and give fans a similar experience. I hope to reach that level one day.”
Herrera made it clear that Molina’s influence played a key role in his decision to join the Cardinals, even when other offers were more lucrative.
Molina, a legendary figure in Cardinals history, boasted a .277 batting average with 591 extra-base hits, including 176 home runs, 1,022 RBIs, and a .726 OPS over his 19-year career. He was a 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, nine-time Gold Glove winner, four-time Platinum Glove recipient, and one-time Silver Slugger.
Herrera, who looked up to Molina as a child, hopes to follow in his footsteps and become the Cardinals’ long-term catcher. The 24-year-old has had an impressive start to the 2025 season, batting .467 with seven hits, three home runs, five extra-base hits, eight RBIs, and a 1.729 OPS in just 15 at-bats over five games.
The Panama native still has a long way to go to match Molina’s legendary status, but with his potential and the opportunity ahead of him, it will be exciting to see how the competition between Herrera and former top prospect Pedro Pagés unfolds for the starting catcher position in the coming years.
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