Ivan Herrera sets unprecedented Cardinals milestone despite underwhelming trade deadline event
In a significant shift within the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Iván Herrera has become the longest-serving player following the trade of Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets on July 30, 2025. Herrera, who joined the Cardinals as an international free agent in 2016, has been a consistent presence in the team for nearly nine years.
Originally signing for $200,000 out of Panama, Herrera now stands as a perfect modern-day poster child for the organization's proclivity for developing young talent. His tenure with the Cardinals surpasses that of the next-longest tenured players, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, Luken Baker, and Kyle Leahy, all of whom were drafted in 2018.
Herrera's versatility and consistent performance have earned him a prominent role in the team. Currently, he is the No. 2 hitter between leadoff man Brendan Donovan and left fielder Alec Burleson. Despite his primary position being catcher and designated hitter, he has recently been playing in the outfield, hinting at a possible shift into a backup outfield role.
This season, Herrera has been a force to reckon with. His .854 OPS ranks first on the team, and he is slashing .299/.381/.473 with 9 home runs in 56 games. His 143 wRC+, a measure of a player's offensive contribution, ranks first among players with at least 100 plate appearances this season.
Herrera's strikeout rate of 19.5% and walk rate of 10.4% indicate a balanced approach at the plate. His ability to draw walks and limit strikeouts has been instrumental in his success.
As Herrera continues to make his mark in the Cardinals organization, he is under team control through the end of the decade, ensuring that fans can look forward to more of his contributions in the coming years.
Ivan Herrera's impressive baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, spanning nearly a decade, has made him more than just a player; he's a symbol of the organization's MLB success in developing young talent. Despite playing multiple positions, including catcher, designated hitter, and outfield, his batting statistics this season are outstanding, with a .854 OPS, a .299 batting average, and 9 home runs.
