photo: Ivan Herrera (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Ivan Herrera has quickly proven to be one of the better hitters in the lower levels of the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system.
First, he was one of the best hitters in the Dominican Summer League last year as a 17-year old in his professional debut.
Now, he comes off a season as one of the best hitters in the Gulf Coast League as an 18-year old, hitting .348 over 28 games in his first season stateside.
“This year was awesome for me,” Herrera said through teammate Chris Chinea, serving as interpreter. “I have had two really good years. I have worked hard for two years. It has worked out very well.”
Emerging as a catching prospect
Herrera first made a name for himself with his performance on the international tournament circuit for Panama as a teenager.
In fact, he was named Most Valuable Player of the U16 Pan Am Baseball Championship two years ago, and the Cardinals signed him for $200,000 in the first week of the 2016 international signing period.
Herrera didn’t turn 17 until two days before the DSL season started last year but still ended as one of its top performers, finishing in the top 10 in both batting average (.335) and on-base percentage (.425). The right-handed hitter finished just one RBI off the team lead and was tops among DSL Cardinals with his 15 doubles.
He was solid behind the dish as well, cutting down 40 percent of attempting-to-steal baserunners at 34 of 85. After the season, Baseball America named him to their DSL All-Star squad and ranked as their No. 31 prospect in the Cardinals system.
“I worked every day, giving 100%,” Herrera said. “Every day I went to the field with a purpose and worked hard on a specific thing. Every day I got better at something else.”
Based on his performance, the Cardinals brought Herrera to the U.S. in 2018 and he kept on hitting with the GCL Cards. He did that while dealing with the rigorous challenge of assimilating to a new culture and learning the English language.
Herrera said he often leaned on his teammates to help him understand English and had a goal to learn a new word each day.
“Little-by-little you just get more comfortable and comfortable,” Herrera said. “The English starts coming. It was easier to understand everyone, trying to make everything easier and smoother.”
That said, had it not been for a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two weeks, Herrera would have ranked third in the GCL in average and fifth with a .923 OPS.
“It was tough for me because that was the first time I have ever missed any type of playing time,” he added.
Working on his overall game
Herrera did open the eyes of many scouts, though.
Considered an offense-first catcher, Herrera is short to the ball with a compact right-handed swing. He has a knack for hard contact – to the pull-side and up the middle – and elevates enough balls to project for double-digit home run power in the future.
Herrera thinks his power will eventually show up down the road, but just tries to stay within himself for now.
“I just take my at-bats and I approach (pitchers) the same way every time,” Herrera said. “I don’t want to get desperate up there. The power numbers will come. I am young. I am learning and getting all this information and how to apply it.”
Defensively, Herrera is built well for a receiver with a broad back and thick legs. He features adequate hands, good instincts, and above-average arm strength, showing enough of a foundation to stick at catcher.
Some scouts say his blocking and footwork need improvement, however.
“(I was just working on my) all-around (catching) – just locking it down in in the bullpens,” Herrera said of his improvements this season. “With the drills down there in Florida, I worked on the transfers with my throws, my footwork, and just working on blocking/receiving. I am just pretty much working to get better at everything, because no one is perfect.
“You have to get better every day. As good as I am right now, I have to keep on improving and get better and better and better because there is a lot of players and you have to be ready for any opportunity. You have to be ready to compete.”
Added one scout, “He’s ahead of his peers in his work ethic and feel for the game.”
Filling in at Springfield with an outlook for 2019
When Herrera was promoted from the GCL to Springfield on August 30, there was confusion by some who follow the Cardinals minor leagues.
A day later, however, catcher Andrew Knizner backfilled Carson Kelly at Memphis for the Pacific Coast League playoffs, so Herrera was only assigned to the S-Cards to fill-in for the final weekend series against Tulsa.
When Herrera made his Double-A debut last Sunday, he became the first-ever player born in the 21st century to suit up for Springfield.
“I give credit to all my hard work and the coaching staff,” Herrera said. “Be a good teammate, good clubhouse guy and have a good attitude. I have just come to the field every day working hard, getting better at something every day whether it is English, baseball, or something.
“Just getting better at that every single day.”
Although Springfield manager Johnny Rodriguez deferred comment on Herrera because of a limited viewing, he did like what he saw from spring training.
“I liked what I saw,” Rodriguez said. “I liked his potential.”
After excelling in his first season stateside, Herrera is already thinking about his preparation for this offseason and what his 2019 may entail – whether he starts at Low-A Peoria or in extended spring training.
“Going into the offseason, I need to get my body in better shape,” Herrera said. “I need to lose a couple of pounds. Get in better shape this offseason and get to a right body weight that I want to play at. I have some goals for next year and I am ready to play wherever they put me.
“Wherever they put me, I will be ready to play. I have those goals ready for next year and hopefully I will get my body in shape and be ready baseball-wise in all aspects of the game – be ready to compete coming up next year.”
Follow Derek Shore on Twitter @D_Shore23.
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