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First time to watch him play, might be the best defensive catcher in the organization right now. If he can hit anything at all he should be ready next year to be the full time catcher. Calls a good game too it appears

kyace wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 20:34 pm First time to watch him play, might be the best defensive catcher in the organization right now. If he can hit anything at all he should be ready next year to be the full time catcher. Calls a good game too it appears

He won a GG last year in AA. Springfield was also Texas League Champions. Love to see it.

I’ve stood 4 feet from the kid. It’s hard to express what a mountain of a man he is. Solid too. Bright future.

IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 21:55 pm IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Pozo Hererra and Rodruigez? Only one DH spot and Gorman might be in it.

Youboughtit wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 22:39 pm

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 21:55 pm IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Pozo Hererra and Rodruigez? Only one DH spot and Gorman might be in it.

in a couple of years, bernal at catcher, herrera in left, crooks at backup c and rodriguez at dh. gorman will kick rocks

clemonsonroots wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 23:11 pm

Youboughtit wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 22:39 pm

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 21:55 pm IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Pozo Hererra and Rodruigez? Only one DH spot and Gorman might be in it.

in a couple of years, bernal at catcher, herrera in left, crooks at backup c and rodriguez at dh. gorman will kick rocks

I have no faith in Hererra having a fielding position. Slow and no arm. I think he’s a prototypical DH. Maybe Rodruigez in OF but Baez will be there for sure. I feel they need to move 1-2 catchers and get real OF. Too many DH/C on this roster

Yeah a lot of people forget about him and leave him out bc Rodriguez, but Bernal is the guy at C, switch hitter too, Rodriguez at DH.

Jobu's Rum wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 02:32 am Yeah a lot of people forget about him and leave him out bc Rodriguez, but Bernal is the guy at C, switch hitter too, Rodriguez at DH.

Not so fast. As great as Bernal may be, Rainiel, may surpass him. Rod is 2 years younger than Bernal and a season behind him. He's already exhibiting more power than Bernal, although neither has reached the age to realize max power. Both appear to be extraordinary athletes. No one in the organization is hinting that Rainiel may not be an everyday catcher.

We will have the enviable task to figure out which one, Bernal or Rodriguez, gets the nod. Bernal has the chance to solidify his position but Rainiel is snapping at his heels. In the meantime we have a talented catcher in Crooks to trade over the next couple years.

Fantastic to have all the options......gives us great trade bait.

hugeCardfan wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 03:00 amNo one in the organization is hinting that Rainiel may not be an everyday catcher.

Nobody was hinting that Herrera was a bad defensive catcher when he was navigating the low minors either.

Youboughtit wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 23:33 pm

clemonsonroots wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 23:11 pm

Youboughtit wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 22:39 pm

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 21:55 pm IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Pozo Hererra and Rodruigez? Only one DH spot and Gorman might be in it.

in a couple of years, bernal at catcher, herrera in left, crooks at backup c and rodriguez at dh. gorman will kick rocks

I have no faith in Hererra having a fielding position. Slow and no arm. I think he’s a prototypical DH. Maybe Rodruigez in OF but Baez will be there for sure. I feel they need to move 1-2 catchers and get real OF. Too many DH/C on this roster

They very well may do that. Rodriguez was originally a 3b too. I do think that they will plan on having Bernal, Herrera, and Rodriguez though given the level of hitting you should see from them. Perhaps Rodriguez at 1b, 3b or of. Bernal is the only one of those three that is exceptional defensively, so I would believe at this point that he should be penciled in as the catcher. Maybe, somewhere down the line, Herrera in a deal for a really good, young roation arm could be the move.

I think he could be here later this season if/when P. Pages is traded (and that should happen ASAP).

rockondlouie wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 08:56 am I think he could be here later this season if/when P. Pages is traded (and that should happen ASAP).

This is my thought as well. A combination of Bernal/Crooks behind the plate would be very solid.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑26 Feb 2026 08:56 am I think he could be here later this season if/when P. Pages is traded (and that should happen ASAP).

Calm down. There’s no reason to trade PP ASAP.

This is a season where the OD roster and game 162 will look very different.

Let it play out.

Youboughtit wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 22:39 pm

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑25 Feb 2026 21:55 pm IMO he is the catcher for the next 6+ years in STL.

His time could be as early as the 2nd half this year.

Pages is just a guy.

Crooks would form a solid #2 to Bernal

Pozo Hererra and Rodruigez? Only one DH spot and Gorman might be in it.

Pozo is not in the long-term plans.
Rodriguez is still a couple years away.
Gorman will either sink or swim at 3B this year.
Herrera will likely catch mostly this year.