Roster Expansion Brings Bernal, Rincon to St. Louis

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Roster Expansion Brings Bernal, Rincon to St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

September roster expansion will bring two more young players into the Cardinals’ clubhouse.

Major League rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on September 1, with clubs allowed to carry no more than 14 pitchers. The Cardinals are reportedly using those two spots on catcher Leo Bernal and right-hander Hancel Rincon. 

That gives St. Louis one position player and one pitcher, which fits the shape of the September roster rules and gives the organization a closer look at two players who have been on the doorstep.

For Bernal, this is a significant moment.

The switch-hitting catcher has been one of the most interesting players in the upper levels of the Cardinals’ system. Bernal has spent the season at Triple-A Memphis, where his live season line is listed at .278 with an .831 OPS, 16 home runs and 77 RBIs. He also gives the Cardinals another catching option at a time when the organization continues to sort through its long-term picture behind the plate.

Bernal has long stood out because of the combination of youth, defensive value and offensive upside. He is not just a depth catcher getting a September look. He is one of the better catching prospects in the organization, and this call gives the Cardinals a chance to see how his game translates around the major-league staff.

That matters.

The Cardinals already have catching questions to answer going forward. Iván Herrera’s bat has forced its way into the conversation, but his long-term defensive fit remains part of the debate. Bernal brings a different profile: more defense-first, more traditional catcher traits, and enough switch-hitting production to make the bat interesting.

This is not a final answer.

It is a September look.

But it is an important one.

Rincon’s call gives the Cardinals another bullpen arm for the stretch run.

The right-hander was in big-league camp during spring training as a non-roster invitee, and his promotion now gives St. Louis another arm capable of helping cover innings in September. 

Rincon has not had the same prospect spotlight as Bernal, but September call-ups are not always about prospect rankings. Sometimes they are about need, role and opportunity. The Cardinals need pitching depth. They need fresh arms. They need innings. Rincon gets his chance because he has put himself close enough to be part of that conversation.

For St. Louis, this move is both practical and evaluative.

The Cardinals add a catcher who could factor into future roster decisions and a right-hander who can help a bullpen that has carried a heavy load. For Bernal and Rincon, it is the kind of September opportunity every minor leaguer works toward.

The roster expands.

The opportunity opens.

And now the Cardinals get a closer look at two more pieces of the organization’s future.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Leo Bernal, Memphis Redbirds | MLB