Cardinals May Turn to Top Prospect Jimmy Crooks if Pedro Pagés Misses Time
The St. Louis Cardinals could soon be forced into a roster move behind the plate after catcher Pedro Pagés exited Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue, potentially opening the door for one of the organization’s top prospects to receive his long-awaited Major League opportunity.
Pagés left early during St. Louis’ 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring. The injury was particularly unfortunate given that the game had been one of his best performances of the season. Before exiting, Pagés went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, launched a home run, drew a walk, and drove in two runs in an impressive offensive showing.
While the Cardinals have not yet officially announced the severity of the injury or whether Pagés will require time on the injured list, signs are pointing toward the organization preparing for a contingency plan.
According to multiple reports, Triple-A Memphis catcher Jimmy Crooks was absent from the Redbirds’ lineup Saturday night—a development that quickly fueled speculation he could be headed to St. Louis if Pagés is unable to play.
Crooks, the Cardinals’ No. 8 prospect, has been one of the hottest hitters in Triple-A to begin the 2026 season and has repeatedly made a strong case for a call-up. Through 19 games at Memphis, the 24-year-old backstop is slashing .286/.405/.643 with an outstanding 1.048 OPS, while adding eight home runs and 18 RBIs.
His offensive production has generated increasing calls from fans and analysts alike for the Cardinals to promote him, though the organization likely hoped his debut would come under more favorable circumstances rather than due to injury.
Still, if Pagés is forced to miss time, Crooks appears to be the obvious candidate to step in.
The young catcher offers significant upside offensively and could provide the Cardinals with another dangerous bat in the lineup, particularly from the left side. His power profile and disciplined plate approach have stood out throughout the early portion of the minor league season, and many believe his bat is nearly ready for Major League competition.
A potential catching tandem of Crooks and Iván Herrera could give St. Louis a highly intriguing combination behind the plate. Herrera has begun to settle in offensively this season, and pairing his right-handed bat with Crooks’ left-handed power would create a balanced and potentially dangerous platoon matchup for opposing pitchers.
Pagés, meanwhile, has been a solid contributor for the Cardinals this year. Across 17 appearances, he is batting .250 with a .310 on-base percentage and a .404 slugging percentage, while totaling two home runs and seven RBIs. His strong outing Saturday only boosted those numbers before the injury cut his night short.
For now, the Cardinals are likely evaluating Pagés’ condition before making any formal roster decision. Crooks may simply be on standby while the team determines the seriousness of the hamstring issue.
However, if Pagés requires even a short stint on the sidelines, all indications suggest Crooks could soon receive the call to the big leagues.
Should that happen, the Cardinals may finally get an opportunity to see whether one of their top young hitters is ready to make an impact at the Major League level.
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