Off to Hot Start in Triple-A, Could Crooks Be Cards' Catcher of Future?

Jimmy Crooks' impressive early-season performance at the plate and behind the plate has Cardinals fans excited about his potential.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:33pm

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An abstract, energetic painting using vibrant neon colors and expressive brushstrokes to depict the dynamic batting motion of a baseball player, conveying the raw athletic energy of the sport.Crooks' early-season power surge has Cardinals fans excited about his potential as the team's future everyday catcher.Memphis Today

This story examines the hot start that Cardinals catching prospect Jimmy Crooks has gotten off to for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. Crooks has been tearing the cover off the ball, posting a 258 wRC+ through his first six games. While it's a small sample size, Crooks' impressive offensive numbers, improved exit velocities, and strong defensive play have raised questions about whether he could be the long-term answer at catcher for the Cardinals.

Why it matters

The Cardinals have a deep stable of catching prospects, including Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés, Yohel Pozo, and Leo Bernal. Crooks' early-season success has put him in the spotlight as the organization looks to find its next everyday catcher to eventually replace the legendary Yadier Molina.

The details

Through his first six games at Triple-A, Crooks is slashing .400/.538/.900 with three home runs, one double, and six RBIs. His 258 wRC+ ranks third in the International League. Crooks has also impressed with his defense, throwing out two baserunners and challenging a close pitch that was overturned. While his .455 BABIP is unsustainable, Crooks has shown improved exit velocities, increasing his hard-hit rate from 42.1% in 2025 to 69.2% so far in 2026.

  • Through Sunday, Crooks had played in six games for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.
  • In September 2025, Crooks made his MLB debut with the Cardinals, slashing .133/.152/.244 in 46 plate appearances.

The players

Jimmy Crooks

A Cardinals catching prospect who is off to a hot start at Triple-A Memphis, raising questions about his potential to be the team's long-term answer at catcher.

Iván Herrera

One of the Cardinals' top catching prospects, currently playing at Triple-A Memphis alongside Crooks.

Pedro Pagés

Another Cardinals catching prospect, currently on the MLB roster.

Yohel Pozo

A Cardinals catching prospect, currently on the MLB roster.

Leo Bernal

A Cardinals catching prospect, currently ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 91 overall prospect.

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What they’re saying

“It's impossible to write an article about a Cardinals catching prospect without Yadier Molina's legacy -- and thus, the question about his heir -- still hanging over the conversation. It's the elephant in the catcher's room.”

— Kyle Reis, Author

What’s next

As the 2026 season progresses, the author will be closely monitoring Crooks' plate discipline and swing decisions to see if he can continue refining his aggressiveness at the plate, which will be key to him reaching his potential as an everyday MLB catcher.

The takeaway

Jimmy Crooks' hot start at Triple-A has put him firmly in the conversation as a potential long-term answer at catcher for the Cardinals, but he'll have to continue to develop and compete with a deep stable of catching prospects in the organization to earn that opportunity.