Young Cardinals catcher's torrid streak is placing pressure on faltering incumbent

The glut of catchers in the St. Louis Cardinals organization is creeping closer to Busch Stadium, and one backstop in particular is leading the charge early in the minor league season — potentially to the chagrin of the Cardinals' primary catcher, Pedro Pages.

Jimmy Crooks has been making mincemeat of Triple-A Memphis thus far, accumulating eight hits in 15 at-bats and hitting three home runs. On April 1, he went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double. Crooks received a cup of coffee with the Cardinals late in 2025, but he scuffled at the plate to the tune of a .133/.152/.244 line in 46 plate appearances. But with Pages under increasing scrutiny in Cardinals Nation for his lackluster performance, Crooks could be inciting a competition between himself and Pages for a role as a major league catcher.

Crooks may be hot on Pages' heels.

Pages hasn't done himself any favors in 2026, owning three hits in 15 at-bats, and he hasn't found success in challenging called balls behind the plate, either. The Cardinals, however, prefer his steady hand behind the plate over that of superior batsman Ivan Herrera, who has mostly been relegated to designated hitter duties this season. Yohel Pozo, the third catcher on the roster, has yet to appear in a game and is more of an offensive-minded player in the Herrera mold. Crooks may end up superior to Pages defensively as well as at the plate; MLB.com rates his arm and fielding ability as 60s in the 20-80 scale, and his caught-stealing rate in the minor leagues has hovered around 30%.

If there's one spot where the Cardinals seem set for the future, it's behind the plate. The team's catching crop is the envy of the league, and Pages is one of the few Cardinals who could be playing for his future within the organization. (Nathan Church may be the other.) Along with Crooks, the Cardinals have Leonardo Bernal and Rainiel Rodriguez rising up the ranks, and Pages could soon find himself as the odd man out if he continues to struggle at the plate. Pozo may also ultimately be cut loose, but his hitting ability gives him more value off of the bench than Pages possesses.

The Cardinals clearly value Pages' rapport with pitchers, but he appears stretched as a starter. In 2025, Pages' wRC+ of 77 tied him for 36th among 53 catchers with at least 150 plate appearances. Pages still has value as a backup, but whether that comes in St. Louis may depend on Herrera's defensive aptitude

If Herrera's strong initial defensive showings in 2026 were merely a mirage and he remains substandard behind the plate, then the Cardinals will likely retain Pages and promote Crooks to split time with him while Herrera serves as the designated hitter. To clear a roster spot, the Cardinals would probably sever ties with Pozo. But If Herrera's gains are for real, the most realistic option is for the Cardinals to flip Pages at the trade deadline and and subsequently give Crooks the lion's share of opportunities in the field to keep Herrera's potent bat in the lineup when he's not catching.

There are a few ways the Cardinals' catching situation could shake out, but what should be noted is that while Pages could be on thin ice, fans' calls for Crooks to replace him immediately are premature. In a similar vein to Arizona Diamondbacks supporters' frustration with former Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado and their desire to replace him with a younger player, it's far too early in the season to deem Crooks ready for the highest level after his faceplant in the majors last season.

If Crooks is still ravaging the minor leagues by the trade deadline, the Cardinals should give him another run at the highest level. But for now, he's best served proving that his hot start in Memphis isn't a fluke while Pages keeps the seat warm and Herrera attempts to show that he can be the Cardinals' starting catcher for years to come.