It looks like the St. Louis Cardinals are preparing to make a change at catcher.
Earlier this week, reports indicated that Cardinals No. 7 prospect Leo Bernal would be called up to the major league roster on Tuesday and make his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While the Cardinals have yet to officially confirm Bernal’s promotion, they have already made a corresponding move behind the plate. Top prospect Jimmy Crooks has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis after appearing in 52 games at the major league level, according to his official MLB.com profile.
Crooks earned his opportunity in the majors after an impressive start to the 2026 season with Memphis. He quickly became a fan favorite, with supporters calling for the Cardinals to promote him. St. Louis eventually granted that request in May.
During his time in Triple-A, Crooks posted a .262/.412/.567 batting line, along with a .980 OPS, 13 home runs and 29 RBIs. Although there were concerns about his tendency to strike out, his overall offensive production was strong enough to earn him a promotion.
However, Crooks struggled to carry that success over to the majors. Across 52 games with the Cardinals, he hit just .179/.255/.336 with a .591 OPS, five home runs and 14 RBIs.
Jimmy Crooks Was Sent Down
With Crooks being sent to Triple-A, the Cardinals’ major league catching options will now consist of Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés. Once St. Louis officially announces Bernal’s promotion, he will join them behind the plate. Still, it’s somewhat surprising that the Cardinals chose to option Crooks rather than making a corresponding move involving Pagés.
St. Louis has built considerable depth at the catching position, particularly among its prospects. Bernal is the latest young catcher expected to reach the majors, while Crooks had already earned his opportunity earlier this season. Meanwhile, No. 1 prospect Rainiel RodrÃguez continues to develop and move closer to the big leagues. Herrera was once viewed as one of the organization’s top catching prospects as well.
Herrera has developed into a dangerous offensive player, although his defensive performance has not reached the same level.
Eventually, the Cardinals may be forced to make a bigger decision regarding their catching depth. There are only so many opportunities and innings available, and several teams around MLB would likely have interest in a 25-year-old catcher with Crooks’ potential.
One argument is that St. Louis could have kept Crooks in the majors alongside Bernal for the remainder of the season. Had Crooks found his offensive rhythm, he could have entered the offseason as an appealing trade asset for the Cardinals.
That possibility may still exist, but his current struggles have undoubtedly reduced his trade value.
Still, the Cardinals were justified in promoting Crooks when they did. Unfortunately, his performance in the majors has not gone according to plan. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t eventually figure things out.
Jordan Walker is a good example. The young Cardinals hitter has also been sent back to Triple-A in an effort to rediscover his swing, showing that a demotion does not have to be the end of a player’s development.
