St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera hit three home runs in their 12-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels at home on Wednesday afternoon in the final game of their three-game series.
Herrera became the first catcher in Cardinals history to hit three home runs in a single game since the franchise was founded in 1882.
Iván Herrera becomes the first catcher in Cardinals history with three home runs in one game! ???? pic.twitter.com/pJ7SJ1wpWw
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2025
He finished the afternoon with six RBIs during a stellar offensive performance.
Herrera is now just the second Panamanian-born player in Major League Baseball history to hit three home runs in a single game. Ben Oglivie was the first, achieving the feat three times with the Milwaukee Brewers—on July 8, 1979, and June 20, 1982, both against the Detroit Tigers, and again on May 14, 1983, against the Boston Red Sox. Oglivie remains one of Panama’s most accomplished sluggers, and Herrera’s breakout showing places him in rare company.
Herrera is the third Latino-born catcher in the history of Major League Baseball to hit three home runs in a game and joins two Puerto Ricans in this category with Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez with the Texas Rangers in 1997 and Benito Santiago in 1996 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The right-handed slugger is also the 23rd catcher in MLB history to hit three home runs in a single game.
The 24-year-old from Panama City is in his first season as St. Louis’ primary catcher following Willson Contreras’s move to first base. He went 3-for-4 with a walk and 12 total bases—a new single-game record for a Cardinals catcher, surpassing Contreras’s 10 from last season.
This performance was a proud moment for Panama.
“We don’t have that many people in the big leagues,” Herrera said postgame. “But the people that get there do good things. I’m just trying to keep it that way.”
For more quotes and reactions, read our earlier AP wire version of the story.
The Cardinals improved to 4-2 to start the 2025 season, while the Angels dropped to 4-2.
St. Louis will begin its third series of the season on Friday, April 4, when it starts a three-game road set against the Boston Red Sox at 2:10 p.m. EDT.
The Angels will return home to host the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game series starting April 4 at 9:38 p.m. EDT.
Herrera An Option For Panama in 2026 WBC
Herrera is a strong candidate to represent Panama in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where the national team will play in Group A at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 6–11. Panama is ranked No. 8 in the latest World Baseball Softball Confederation world rankings and will face Cuba, Canada, host Puerto Rico, and a qualifier nation.
If Herrera joins the roster, he could anchor a lineup that may also include Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Baltimore Orioles’ No. 3 prospect, and Edmundo Sosa, infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. Panamanian national team general manager Damaso Espino, who is also an international scout for the Cardinals, will likely play a major role in recruiting Herrera during the 2025 season.
Panama will play in Group A in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in the 2026 WBC against Cuba, Canada, host nation Puerto Rico and a qualifier nation from March 6-11.
The four nations that have already qualified for the 2026 WBC that are not yet assigned to a pool are Brazil, Colombia, Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua.
Panama is ranked at No. 8 in the World Baseball Rankings, published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
Herrera’s Breakout Performance