JIMMY CROOKS NEWS

Could share catcher with Herrera Crooks could split time at catcher for the Cardinals next season with Ivan Herrera, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Impact Herrera is slated to return to catcher in 2026 after serving as the team's primary designated hitter for the final few months of 2025. He is not expected to be used behind the plate full-time, though, leaving some reps at catcher open. Per Woo, that playing time is likelier to go to Crooks than Pedro Pages, who is a trade candidate. Crooks struggled in a cup of coffee with the Cardinals in 2025, going 6-for-45 with a 0:17 BB:K. However, the 24-year-old has been productive in the minors, having slashed .274/.337/.441 with 14 home runs this season at Triple-A Memphis.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Suzuki and Assad power playoff-bound Cubs to a 2-0 win over the Cardinals

Seiya Suzuki homered in his fourth straight game, Javier Assad pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning and the playoff-bound Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 for a...

SEPTEMBER 28 • Associated Press

Sitting again Sunday Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact The left-handed-hitting Crooks was expected to get a look as the Cardinals' top backstop over the final few weeks of the season, but he's now sat in four of St. Louis' last five matchups, with three of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. Entering Sunday, the 72-77 Cardinals sit just four games behind the pace for the final wild-card spot in the National League, which may be a factor in the team's decision to lean more heavily of late on Pedro Pages, who lacks Crooks' upside as a hitter but is a more trusted defender behind the dish.

SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Sunday Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact The left-handed-hitting Crooks was expected to get a look as the Cardinals' top backstop over the final few weeks of the season, but he's now sat in four of St. Louis' last five matchups, with three of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. Entering Sunday, the 72-77 Cardinals sit just four games behind the pace for the final wild-card spot in the National League, which may be a factor in the team's decision to lean more heavily of late on Pedro Pages, who lacks Crooks' upside as a hitter but is a more trusted defender behind the dish.

SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Wednesday Crooks isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

Impact It initially seemed like Crooks would take over as the Cardinals' primary backstop to close out the regular season, but a 2-for-17 start to his MLB career will now cause him to miss his third start in four games. Pedro Pages will start behind the plate instead Wednesday, and it seems likely that the two players will split time at catcher during the final stretch.

SEPTEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Settling in as primary catcher Crooks is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Monday's game against the Mariners.

Impact Crooks is making his third start over the last four games and the left-handed hitter has been in the lineup four times across the Cardinals' last five contests versus righties. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, Crooks is expected to continue seeing the bulk of the starts behind the dish for the rest of the season. Pedro Pages' could be limited mostly to playing versus lefties, while Yohel Pozo will be used as a pinch hitter.

SEPTEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Idle Sunday Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Impact Crooks will take a seat for the day game after he had started behind the plate in three of the last four games while going 1-for-10 with a run scored. Pedro Pages will draw the start at catcher Sunday, but with the 71-72 Cardinals fading from playoff contention, it wouldn't be surprising if the rookie Crooks ended up seeing the bulk of the playing time at the position for the remainder of the season.

SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Idle Sunday Crooks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Impact Crooks will take a seat for the day game after he had started behind the plate in three of the last four games while going 1-for-10 with a run scored. Pedro Pages will draw the start at catcher Sunday, but with the 71-72 Cardinals fading from playoff contention, it wouldn't be surprising if the rookie Crooks ended up seeing the bulk of the playing time at the position for the remainder of the season.

SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Walker's 2-run double in the 9th rallies Cardinals for a 3-2 win over Giants

Jordan Walker’s two-run double highlighted a three-run ninth inning and rallied the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants

SEPTEMBER 7 • Associated Press

Devers, Adames hit back-to-back homers and Seymour earns 1st win as red-hot Giants deck Cards 8-2

Rafael Devers and Willy Adames hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, and the streaking San Francisco Giants matched their season best with 18 hits during an 8-2 victory o...

SEPTEMBER 6 • Associated Press

Starting at catcher Tuesday Crooks is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Tuesday's game versus the Athletics.

Impact It's just the second start Crooks has made in five contests since being promoted from Triple-A Memphis. He homered in his first start Sunday in Cincinnati. Pedro Pages will begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench.

SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Worthy: Cardinals roster expands, but no JJ Wetherholt or Quinn Mathews. It's no surprise. Young catcher Jimmy Crooks is getting a taste of the big leagues, but JJ Wetherholt and Quinn Mathews remain in Memphis. What gives?

SEPTEMBER 2 • PANTAGRAPH.COM

Rookie catcher Jimmy Crooks collects first MLB hit, a homer — 'surreal': Cardinals Extra During his first career start Sunday, Cardinals rookie catcher Jimmy Crooks homered to collect the first hit, homer and RBI of his big leagu...

SEPTEMBER 1 • STLTODAY.COM

Sitting out day after homering Crooks is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Athletics.

Impact Crooks drew his first major-league start Sunday against the Reds and cranked his first big-league homer in a loss, but he finds himself back on the bench a day later. The young catcher has started just one of four games since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Pedro Pages will catch and bat seventh for St. Louis on Monday.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out day after homering Crooks is out of the lineup for Monday's game versus the Athletics.

Impact Crooks drew his first major-league start in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Reds and cranked his first big-league home run, but he finds himself back on the bench a day later. The young catcher has started just one of four games since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Pedro Pages will catch and bat seventh for St. Louis on Monday.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Hays hits tiebreaking homer and Reds deck Cards 7-4 to stop 5-game slide

Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt McLain went deep for the second consecutive game to back a solid start by Brady Singer as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Loui...

AUGUST 31 • Associated Press

Making first MLB start Crooks is starting behind the plate and batting eighth Sunday against the Reds.

Impact The 24-year-old will make the first start of his MLB career after being called up by the Cardinals on Friday. It technically won't be his MLB debut, however, since he entered as a defensive replacement without receiving an at-bat in Friday's contest. Crooks is one of St. Louis' top prospects and posted a .272/.336/.437 slash line with 14 homers in 99 games for Triple-A Memphis this year.

AUGUST 31 • ROTOWIRE