The Cardinals may have found something real behind the plate in Leo Bernal.
It’s still a small sample, sure. Eighteen games is hardly enough time to stamp a catcher’s future in permanent ink. But Bernal has done enough in that stretch to turn heads fast, and the early returns have been loud.
At the plate, he’s been a force. Bernal is hitting .311/.354/.514 with an .868 OPS, along with four home runs, 17 RBIs, three doubles and a 145 OPS+.
That OPS+ says plenty on its own: he has been 45 percent better than the average offensive player since reaching the majors. Stretch those numbers across a full season and you’re staring at a pace for 36 homers, 153 RBIs and 27 doubles.
For a young backstop still settling into big league life, that’s a huge offensive jump. And Bernal has had more on his plate than just hitting. He’s also been learning how to work with the Cardinals’ pitchers, and he’s handled that challenge well too.
Defense was never really the question. Bernal arrived with a reputation as an elite defender, and he backed that up by winning a MiLB Gold Glove in 2025. That ability has carried over to the majors, where he’s been just as sharp behind the plate.
That two-way profile is what makes him stand out. St.
Louis has had different catchers bring different strengths, but not the full package Bernal has flashed. Jimmy Crooks struggled offensively while holding his own defensively.
Pedro Pagés fit a similar mold. Iván Herrera brought offense, but not the same defensive value.
Bernal looks different because he isn’t living in just one lane. He’s already shown he can impact the game with the glove and with the bat, and that kind of balance is exactly what the Cardinals have been searching for at catcher.
The organization has talked for a while about the depth it has behind the plate, and Rainiel Rodriguez still hasn’t gotten his shot. Even so, Bernal is the one making the strongest statement right now. He looks like the real deal.
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Tai Peete has given the deal some early life at Double-A Springfield, where he has been one of the more encouraging performers in the Texas League Championship Series, including a five-hit game. Meanwhile, Donovan has been limited to just 39 games for the Mariners this season because of injuries, which has only sharpened the spotlight on what the Cardinals got back and whether the swap may end up looking better for St. Louis than it did when it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Enter Offseason With 3 Roster Calls That Could Get Ruthless
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That puts some established names in a precarious spot as the front office weighs fit as much as familiarity. Nolan Gorman, Jos Pags and Ryan Stanek are among the players whose futures could come into question as the Cardinals sort through what needs to stay, what needs to go and where the roster needs to get tougher. [Read more 🡒]