The St. Louis Cardinals just can’t seem to catch a break. The Athletic dropped a bombshell report that top outfielder, one of the team’s most consistent and reliable hitters this season, is headed to the 10-day injured list with a nagging right wrist issue.
For a Cardinals team that has been fighting tooth and nail to stay in the NL Wild Card mix, this is the kind of gut-punch news that can completely shift the dynamics of the lineup. And yet, while St. Louis loses its most dependable bat, they’re also giving fans a glimpse into the future — calling up two exciting young talents from Triple-A Memphis: catcher Jimmy Crooks and infielder Cesar Prieto.
This sudden shake-up could define the Cardinals’ stretch run.
The Burleson Blow: A Season of Quiet Consistency Put on Pause
At just 26 years old, Burleson has been quietly putting together a breakout season. Slashing .286 with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs in 122 games, he’s not only become a middle-of-the-order staple, but he also leads the team in total hits with a whopping 123 knocks.
That level of production isn’t easy to replace.
And it makes his injury sting even more, especially considering how the Cardinals’ offense has leaned on his consistency while big names like Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt have battled through slumps and nagging injuries of their own.
Burleson first tweaked the wrist last week, missing a game, but seemed to be trending back toward health — until Thursday night against the Pirates. After another flare-up, manager Oliver Marmol had no choice but to pull him, and now the team is opting for caution by sending him to the IL.
For Cardinals fans, it raises the dreaded question: How long will he really be out? Wrist injuries are notoriously tricky, especially for hitters who rely on bat speed and torque.
Enter Jimmy Crooks: The Catcher of the Future?
With Burleson sidelined, the Cardinals are turning to fresh legs, and Jimmy Crooks is the headliner. Ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the organization by MLB.com, the 24-year-old backstop has been tearing it up in Memphis, hitting .274 with 14 homers and 79 RBIs in 98 games.
Crooks has been labeled as a defense-first catcher with a growing bat, but this year’s surge of power and production has people rethinking his ceiling.
And let’s not overlook the intrigue here: Yadier Molina’s shadow still looms large over the Cardinals’ catching position. While Willson Contreras has been productive offensively, his defensive struggles have been well-documented since joining St. Louis. Could Crooks represent the long-term answer behind the dish? His debut will give fans their first real taste.
Don’t Sleep on Cesar Prieto: The Contact King
Alongside Crooks, the Cardinals are also promoting Cesar Prieto, a 26-year-old Venezuelan infielder who has been steadily climbing the organizational ladder. Prieto has yet to make his MLB debut, but his performance in Memphis has been impossible to ignore: .295 average, nine homers, and 62 RBIs in 107 games.
While he may not bring jaw-dropping power, Prieto’s calling card is his elite bat-to-ball skills. In an era dominated by strikeouts, the Cardinals are desperate for hitters who can consistently put the ball in play and generate offense in different ways.
He’s also versatile defensively, capable of filling in across the infield, which makes him a valuable asset for a Cardinals team that has struggled with depth all season.
What This Means for the Cardinals’ Playoff Push
Here’s the reality: losing Burleson is a brutal blow. He’s been the engine of the Cardinals’ offense, and without him, St. Louis will need others — especially guys like Jordan Walker, Brendan Donovan, and Lars Nootbaar — to step up immediately.
But the flip side is intriguing. This is exactly the kind of opportunity that allows fresh talent to shine. The Cardinals are banking on Crooks and Prieto to inject some energy into a team that has been inconsistent all year long.
And for fans? It’s must-watch baseball. Seeing a top catching prospect make his debut while a contact-hitting infielder gets his first crack at the big leagues brings a whole new layer of excitement to an otherwise frustrating season.
Final Thoughts
Alec Burleson’s injury is bad news, no sugarcoating it. But in the long, unpredictable grind of a 162-game season, moments like this can serve as turning points. Either the Cardinals stumble without their hottest bat… or they find unexpected heroes in the form of Jimmy Crooks and Cesar Prieto.
One thing’s for sure: the next 10 days just got a whole lot more interesting in St. Louis.