Ivan Herrera Nears Return to the Lineup

The Cardinal Chronicle
In the Spotlight: Ivan Herrera Nears Return to the Lineup
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Spring training has a rhythm of its own. Some stories roar through camp, while others develop quietly in the background. Over the past week, one of those quieter storylines has been the status of Cardinals catcher and designated hitter Iván Herrera, who appears to be nearing a return to Grapefruit League action.

Herrera has been dealing with knee inflammation that briefly slowed his progress in camp, but recent reports suggest the situation is trending in the right direction. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Herrera’s return to Grapefruit League play is considered imminent, and the young catcher has already resumed full workouts in Cardinals camp.

There are also encouraging signs from behind the scenes.

As first reported by Brian Walton of TheCardinalNation.com, Herrera stepped into the box eight times during a backfields “B” game on Wednesday, an important step as he works his way back into game rhythm. Walton also noted that Herrera homered in his first plate appearance during that session, a reminder of the offensive ability that has long made him one of the more intriguing bats in the organization.

For now, the Cardinals may choose to bring him along gradually. Herrera could initially see time at designated hitter while his knee continues to strengthen, before returning to more regular work behind the plate. That approach would allow St. Louis to get his bat back into the lineup without immediately placing the full defensive workload on his knee.

Even in limited action this spring, Herrera has shown flashes, going 2-for-7 at the plate so far in Grapefruit League play. The numbers themselves aren’t the story yet — the real focus is simply getting him healthy and back into the daily rhythm of games.

That matters because Herrera is expected to play an important role in the Cardinals’ evolving lineup. While Pedro Pagés projects to handle much of the catching duties, the organization has increasingly looked at Herrera as a middle-of-the-order offensive presence, capable of contributing both at catcher and at designated hitter.

In a spring filled with talk about the Cardinals’ youth movement, Herrera represents another key piece of that transition. Still only in his mid-20s, he brings a blend of power, patience, and improving defensive skill that the club hopes will translate into consistent production.

If the current timeline holds, Cardinals fans may not have to wait long to see him back in the lineup.

The old school take is, in baseball, the goal of spring training isn’t to win games — it’s to arrive in April with your roster healthy and ready. If Iván Herrera returns to the lineup in the next few days, the Cardinals will have accomplished exactly what they needed to do: protect a bat that could quietly become one of the more important in their 2026 lineup.