Leo Bernal sets Cardinals record as he grabs hold of starting gig

Leo Bernal made his major league debut nearly two weeks ago and has already made an impression. The latest rookie to debut had 13 hits in his first 10 games, including a seven-game hitting streak, and has looked comfortable at the dish. Those hits have resulted in 12 runs driven in for the catcher, setting a franchise record for RBI in a rookie's first 10 games.

Leo Bernal is becoming the frontrunner for Cardinals' starting catcher in 2027

When the calendar flipped to September, the Cardinals were waving goodbye to their playoff hopes. While disappointing, being out of contention is allowing them to give their prospects a taste of the majors in low-risk situations. Unlike with Jimmy Crooks earlier in the season, the Cardinals made it clear what their plan was for Bernal when they swapped catchers on the big league roster. Crooks remained in a timeshare with Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages, but no such setup exists any longer.

In their attempt to figure out who can take hold of the starting catcher position, the Cardinals have given Bernal the most consistent look of the bunch. Herrera continues to get a day per week behind the dish, but Pages has been relegated to the Charlie Conway role on the bench to clear the way for the future. The rookie catcher's performance to start his career has made it easy on manager Oliver Marmol to fill out the lineup card.

Bernal has hit in the middle of the order since being called up, and with his latest blast against the White Sox, the switch-hitter continues to strengthen his hold on the 2027 starting gig. The go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning was not enough to give the Cardinals the win thanks to yet another bullpen implosion, but he has answered every challenge thrown his way. Crooks has already seen time in parts of two MLB seasons and has yet to show the confidence we have seen from Bernal just two weeks in.

Bernal has played his way from the trade block into the starting lineup, with Crooks, Pages, and even Herrera looking like potential trade chips this offseason. How the Cardinals approach the winter with their catching depth will also give a glimpse into what we could expect from Rainiel Rodriguez next year. The 19-year-old continues to destroy baseballs and play solid defense, but if Bernal can continue his run into next year, a position change may be on the table for Rodriguez.

If the Cardinals opt to hang onto Pages as the backup catcher next year, Crooks could be dangled on the market to catcher-needy teams. St. Louis could also opt to keep the younger Crooks around since he has shown solid power in the minors, but Pages would not be worth much to other organizations. Herrera has stayed healthy all season and the Cardinals gave him his chance to stick behind the plate, but the lack of arm strength should move him out of the gear permanently. With Bernal staking an early claim to the 2027 starting catcher role, Chaim Bloom can place some more focus on other positions of need, namely third base, the bullpen, and potentially center field.

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