Who Is St. Louis Cardinals Catcher Leo Bernal?
The Cardinals signed Bernal as a world free agent in 2021 out of Panama. He has been steadily climbing up the minor leagues since.
After a 2025 season in Double-A, slashing .247/.332/.394 with 13 residence runs, the Cardinals protected him within the Rule 5 Draft with a 40-man roster spot in November.
He’s at present the Cardinals’ No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and earns his finest grades for his protection and arm. Bernal threw out 39.1% of runners final season in Double-A, an astounding quantity for any catcher lately. For his defensive efficiency, he received a Minor League Gold Glove award.
Bernal is a switch-hitter with some attention-grabbing splits. He exhibits higher bat-to-ball abilities as a lefty, however has extra energy from the suitable aspect. Superior metrics say he could possibly be stable with the hit instrument however will probably be extra recognized for his protection.
In Triple-A this 12 months, he has slashed a career-high .278/.363/.468 with 16 residence runs in 101 video games, incomes his promotion.
He has No. 1 catcher upside; it’s only a matter of how a lot enjoying time he’ll get early on.
Who Will Stand in Bernal’s Approach for Taking part in Time?
Whereas Bernal may very properly be the long-awaited successor to Molina, he has some challengers for the throne.
As talked about earlier than, whereas Herrera was an All-Star this 12 months, he has spent the vast majority of the season because the Cardinals’ DH.
Amid Herrera’s positional change, Pedro Pagés has assumed catching duties. Whereas Pagés’ fielding has been above-average, his bat has been underwhelming. In 74 video games, Pagés is slashing .209/.260/.311 with 4 residence runs.
Within the quick time period, Bernal could lose at-bats to Pagés. Nevertheless, in the long run, Pagés possible won’t be within the working for catcher of the longer term.
Backup catcher Jimmy Crooks hasn’t been any higher. In 52 video games, the previous fourth-round choose is slashing .179/.255/.336 with 5 residence runs. The Cardinals may ship down Crooks to Triple-A with Bernal’s promotion.
Nevertheless, ready within the wings is the most effective catching prospect in baseball, Rainiel Rodriguez. The 19-year-old is already in Double-A and mashing the baseball, with 24 residence runs in 105 video games. His energy instrument is without doubt one of the finest in baseball at 65. Rodriguez is the No. 18 prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline, however nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than he makes it to the foremost leagues.
Bernal may have an early likelihood to indicate off his expertise earlier than Rodriguez will get to the majors. However in due time, the Cardinals may have among the finest backstop tandems in baseball.
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