The Cardinals’ Opening Day Catching Discussion

So far in Spring Training, Pozo is hitting .286 in 28 at-bats. Defensively, Pozo was a mixed bag. He was above average in blocks and framing, but was below average when it came to throwing out base stealers and pop time (speed in throwing to a base). Furthermore, pitch framing will be less of a factor in 2026 due to the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system. In short, Pozo’s value is with his bat more so than his glove.  That does not mean he will not improve with time, but for now, his bat is his biggest weapon.

The Cardinals’ Other Options

Ivan Herrera was one of the team’s best hitters last season, but like Pozo, his defense struggled. Herrera spent the offseason working on improving his catcher’s abilities and has gotten starts behind the plate during Spring Training. However, it is looking increasingly likely that the 25-year-old will be the team’s designated hitter on Opening Day. A knee inflammation is likely responsible for this, as it looked like the plan was for Herrera to be the catcher on Opening Day. However, he is still likely to see time at catcher once his knee fully heals. The third and final option is Pedro Pages, who batted .238 with 11 home runs last season. Defensively, Pages was above average in all but one category: blocking. Again, pitch framing has far less impact in 2026, making that statistic less meaningful than it used to be. However, it is clear that Pages is the opposite of Pozo. His glove is his weapon over his bat.

Pozo Over Pages

Pages is clearly the better defensive catcher at the moment. As such, it would seem to make more sense to start him on Opening Day. However, we believe it should be Pozo. At this time, Pozo’s bat carries more weight than Pages’ glove. As we said in the open, the Cardinals have some questions about this lineup. If Wetherholt makes the lineup, will he be ready for the MLB challenge? What about if Nelson Velázquez gets the nod in left field and appears in his first MLB game since 2024? Will he be ready for the return?. Furthermore, Jordan Walker is entering what could be considered a “boom or bust” season, but is struggling in Spring Training right now. The Cardinals may need someone who brings a little pop to the lineup. Pozo is someone who could help fill that void. Last season showed he can come through with the big hit when needed. He is seeing the ball well right now. His offense should put him behind the plate on Opening Day. If the Cardinals are winning in the late innings, manager Ollie Marmol can always put in Pages to improve the defense.

The Bottom Line: Catching Carousel

Regardless of who gets the Opening Day start, the Cardinals are going to be giving the other catcher a fair amount of time. Once Herrera’s knee heals, he will be put into the mix as well. It will be a carousel, but for now, the Opening Day start should go to Pozo.