The St. Louis Cardinals may already have a contingency plan in place if catcher Pedro Pagés is forced to miss time after exiting Saturday’s 11–9 loss to the Seattle Mariners with left hamstring tightness.
Pagés was in the middle of his most productive performance of the season before the injury, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a walk, and two RBIs. However, his early departure quickly shifted attention to the team’s depth behind the plate and what move could follow.
Signs are already pointing toward top prospect Jimmy Crooks as a potential replacement. The 24-year-old catcher was notably absent from the Triple-A Memphis lineup the same day, fueling speculation that a call-up could be imminent if Pagés requires time on the sidelines.
Crooks has been one of the organization’s hottest hitters in the minors, delivering an impressive start to the season. Through 19 games, he’s posted a .286 batting average with a .405 on-base percentage and a powerful .643 slugging mark, good for a 1.048 OPS. He’s also tallied eight home runs and 18 RBIs, making a strong case for a major league opportunity.
If promoted, Crooks could provide a valuable offensive boost, particularly from the left side, and potentially form a dangerous catching duo with Iván Herrera, who has begun to find his rhythm at the plate this season.
For now, the Cardinals have not made an official roster move, as they continue to evaluate Pagés’ condition. But if there’s any concern about the severity of the injury, Crooks appears ready to step in and make his long-anticipated debut.
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