When Ivan Herrera steps to the bat, he becomes appointment viewing. The St. Louis Cardinals catcher has a.385 batting average and is considered one of baseball’s top hitters. Bernie Miklasz, a sports writer and co-host of the “Cardinal Territory” podcast with Katie Woo, praised Herrera and compared his playing style to that of Albert Pujols.
Miklasz did not mention Pujols by name, but his remark about Herrera being akin to “a guy I met for the first time in 2001” and subsequent attempts to warn people not to get too excited about the 24-year-old made it clearly evident that he was comparing Herrera to El Hombre.
It’s admittedly a stretch to suggest that Herrera’s career will rival that of one of the greatest right-handed hitters of his era. However, as Miklasz pointed out, their primary resemblance lies in their demeanor at the plate — their physicality, confidence, and sharp instincts. Herrera demonstrates an exceptional natural ability with the bat, showing no clear weaknesses. He combines contact and power hitting with a solid approach, including a respectable walk rate. Among players with at least 40 plate appearances, he leads MLB in wRC+ (254), just edging out Aaron Judge. With nine extra-base hits in just 12 games, Herrera has returned from a month-long injury absence without missing a beat, batting .389 since rejoining the lineup on May 9.
While the comparison to Pujols is eye-catching, a more realistic parallel might be Allen Craig, the former Cardinals outfielder and first baseman. Before his career was sidetracked by a leg injury, Craig was a reliable .300 hitter with power potential, possibly capable of hitting 25 homers a season if healthy. He was the first true middle-of-the-order bat the Cardinals developed since Yadier Molina — and until Herrera’s breakout, the most recent.
Where Herrera clearly diverges from Pujols is on defense. Pujols won two Gold Gloves at first base, whereas Herrera has a long way to go just to be considered an average catcher. His throwing arm has been a particular weakness — he’s already allowed seven stolen bases this season without catching a single runner.
The Cardinals might consider shifting him to a new position, much like they did with Pujols early in his career when he transitioned from left field to first base. Herrera’s 5-foot-11 frame isn’t ideal for a first baseman, so designated hitter could eventually be his best fit. That said, it’s too early to commit him to DH duties, especially if he can still make strides defensively. Fans only need to look at Jordan Walker as proof that young players can improve significantly with the right coaching.
Herrera may not reach the legendary heights of Pujols, but he could still become one of the Cardinals’ most impressive homegrown success stories in over a decade, with a chance at a truly notable career.