蜜芽传媒

As he put on and fiddled with the red-and-blue outfielder鈥檚 glove he borrowed from teammate Jose Fermin, Cardinals slugger Ivan Herrera described what his first career start in the outfield could feel like.

鈥淚t takes practice, of course,鈥� Herrera said from in front of his locker ahead of a start in left field. 鈥淏ut catching, you have to be blocking, receiving and calling games, watching the signs. I can just focus on seeing the ball and catching the ball.鈥�

Exclusively a catcher and designated hitter throughout his time in the Cardinals organization, Herrera started in left field for the Cardinals during their series opener vs. the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium.

Herrera has had a break from duties behind the plate since coming off the injured list on the final day before the All-Star break after a left hamstring strain shelved him. Herrera, who also missed time this season because of a bone bruise in his left knee, was expected to have his catching opportunities limited for the remainder of the season and appeared as a designated hitter in each of the Cardinals鈥� first 10 games coming out of the break.

On June 20, when Herrera was placed on the IL for his second leg injury this season, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said having Herrera learn to play the outfield was an idea they鈥檇 鈥渢oyed with鈥� but involved a 鈥渂igger discussion there as far as what鈥檚 coming and what makes the most sense big picture.鈥� Marmol said the club wanted to 鈥渆xhaust all鈥� of their options with Herrera behind the plate before moving to the outfield became a possibility.

But his recent work with assistant coach Jon Jay to learn the outfield, a ground-ball pitcher on the mound against Miami and a need to use the designated hitter spot to rotate in other players turned Monday鈥檚 game into an opportunity for Herrera to start in left field.

鈥淭here has been improvements and all the fundamentals that you would need to feel comfortable playing left field,鈥� Marmol said. 鈥淲e were working backwards from today with (starter Andre) Pallante on the mound to get him (Herrera) ready, knowing that we needed to start to free up the DH a little bit, especially with it as hot as can be.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be able to rotate some guys through that DH spot while still keeping his (Herrera鈥檚) bat in the lineup.鈥�

Herrera recalled his last time starting in the outfield was when he was 14, playing youth baseball in Panama. He joked that he was a 鈥減retty good鈥� left fielder as a teenager and believes his arm strength plays better in the outfield than from behind the plate, where he鈥檚 nabbed just six of the 81 base stealing attempts he鈥檚 seen against him in the majors.

The 25-year-old went through outfield work during his rehab assignment for the left hamstring strain and said he鈥檚 continued pregame outfield work with Jay every day since he鈥檚 been activated. He said tracking down fly balls over his head has been the most challenging aspect so far.

He described himself as 鈥渆xcited鈥� and acknowledged what his start in left could mean for the Cardinals lineup.

鈥淚 like catching, like I鈥檝e said before, but right now, this puts the team in the best position so we can rotate, we can give some guys rest,鈥� Herrera said. 鈥淎s long as it helps the team, I鈥檓 happy to do it.鈥�

Roby undergoes Tommy John

Cardinals pitching prospect Tekoah Roby underwent Tommy John surgery this past week, sources confirmed to Post-Dispatch writer Derrick Goold. The elbow procedure could sideline Roby through the 2026 season, positioning him to return in 2027.

Roby, 23, posted a 3.10 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and struck out 87 batters in 78 1/3 innings over 16 minor league starts this past season. Coming off a strong showing in big league spring training, the righty opened the year in Class AA and was promoted to Class AAA by early June. He made six starts for Class AAA Memphis before he landed on the injured list.

Since being acquired by the Cardinals from the Rangers in the Jordan Montgomery trade at the 2023 trade deadline, Roby has been limited to 128 2/3 innings because of multiple injuries. Roby was traded while he dealt with a shoulder injury in 2023 and was hampered by an elbow injury in 2024.

As one of the top pitching prospects in the Cardinals鈥� system, Roby earned 40-man roster status last winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Extra bases

The Cardinals recalled right-handed reliever Matt Svanson from Class AAA Memphis for the start of Monday鈥檚 series opener against the Marlins. In a corresponding move, right-hander Andre Granillo was optioned to Class AAA after he logged 2 1/3 innings on 46 pitches Sunday vs. the Padres. Granillo totaled 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs over three big league relief appearances following a call-up on July 23.

• Lars Nootbaar (left costochondral sprain) is on pace to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Marmol said. Nootbaar took pregame batting practice on Monday.
• Nolan Gorman (lower back pain) is expected to be the designated hitter for Class AA Springfield (Missouri) on Tuesday when he begins his rehab assignment.