Cardinals Catcher Iván Herrera Scratched Due to Knee Inflammation

The 23-year-old slugger has dealt with injuries throughout his young career.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher/designated hitter Iván Herrera was scratched from the lineup on Saturday due to knee inflammation. Herrera, who has shown immense offensive potential but has struggled with injuries in his young career, will rest for the next 24-48 hours before being reevaluated by the team.

Why it matters

Herrera is considered one of the Cardinals' top prospects and a key part of their future, so any injury concerns are worth monitoring closely. The team will need to find a way to keep the 23-year-old consistently healthy, whether that's behind the plate or as a designated hitter.

The details

Herrera was scheduled to bat third as the designated hitter on Saturday, but was a late scratch due to the knee inflammation. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said the team will have Herrera rest for the next 24-48 hours before reevaluating him. In 2025, Herrera only caught 14 games due to knee and elbow injuries, with most of his playing time coming as the designated hitter.

  • Herrera was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup on Saturday, March 9, 2026.
  • In 2025, Herrera only caught 14 games due to injuries.

The players

Iván Herrera

A 23-year-old catcher/designated hitter in the St. Louis Cardinals organization who has shown immense offensive potential but has struggled with injuries throughout his young career.

Oli Marmol

The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Daniel Guerrero

A reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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What they’re saying

“While Masyn Winn returned to shortstop after a sore arm kept him from appearing there in a game since Feb. 28, Iván Herrera was scratched from the Cardinals' starting lineup Saturday because of inflammation in his knee.”

— Daniel Guerrero, Reporter (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

“Herrera was scheduled to bat third as the designated hitter before the lineup swap.”

— Daniel Guerrero, Reporter (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

“[Oli Marmol] said the Cardinals will have Herrera rest for the next 24 to 48 hours and will proceed from there after he is reevaluated.”

— Oli Marmol, Manager (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

What’s next

The Cardinals will reevaluate Herrera's knee inflammation in 24-48 hours to determine the next steps.

The takeaway

Iván Herrera's injury history has been a concern for the Cardinals, and this latest knee inflammation issue is another setback for the young slugger. The team will need to carefully manage Herrera's workload and find ways to keep him healthy, whether that's behind the plate or as a designated hitter, in order to maximize his immense offensive potential.