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
Herrera’s first home run came in the bottom of the fourth inning on a 79 mph curveball from Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi. The solo shot traveled 395 feet over the left field wall.
Iván Herrera homers to left to tie it! 💥 pic.twitter.com/mo373zggb6
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2025
He pounded his second of the game with a two-run home run over the left field fence off of Kikuchi that went 414 feet in the bottom of the sixth inning.
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
The third homer from Herrera on Wednesday afternoon came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he cranked a 97 mph four-seam fastball three-run home run once again over the left field wall that carried at 425 feet and an exit velocity of 110.7 mph off of lefty reliever Brock Burke
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
Entering Wednesday, Herrera had appeared in four games, slashing .364/.417/.545 with four hits, two doubles, two RBIs, one walk, and three strikeouts in 12 plate appearances.
In spring training, Herrera appeared in 16 games and hit .333/.455/.636 in 44 plate appearances, recording 11 hits, five doubles, one triple, eight RBIs, nine walks, and nine strikeouts.
Last season, Herrera split time between Triple-A Memphis and the Cardinals. In 72 games with St. Louis, he hit .301 over 258 plate appearances with 69 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 27 RBIs, five stolen bases, 25 walks, 53 strikeouts, and a .962 OPS.
With Memphis, Herrera appeared in 27 games, slashing .280/.402/.473 with 26 hits, one double, one triple, five home runs, 16 RBIs, three stolen bases, 19 walks, and 20 strikeouts.
Herrera suited up for the 2024 Panama Probeis champion Federales de Chiriquí at the 2024 Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park in Miami.
He played in eight games, logging 35 plate appearances and hitting .357/.486/.714 with 10 hits, one double, three home runs, 10 RBIs, one stolen base, five walks, and seven strikeouts. He was named the All-Tournament catcher at the event.
The Federales de Chiriquí finished third at the 2024 Caribbean Series, defeating the 2023 Curaçao Professional Baseball League champion, the Curaçao Suns, 5-4.
In 2023, Herrera played 13 games for St. Louis, batting .297/.409/.351 with 11 hits, two doubles, four RBIs, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in 44 plate appearances. He also played 83 games with Memphis, slashing .297 with 86 hits, 27 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 60 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 75 walks, 77 strikeouts, and a .761 OPS in 375 plate appearances.
Herrera made his MLB debut on May 24, 2022, against the Toronto Blue Jays at home.
In 101 MLB games across four seasons, Herrera owns a .298 batting average with 341 plate appearances, 89 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 40 RBIs, five stolen bases, 34 walks, 76 strikeouts, and an .812 OPS.
Herrera will be evaluated by fourth-year Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and will compete with Maracay, Venezuela native Pedro Pagés for playing time behind the plate in April.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a qualifier nation will compete in Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11. Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic and a qualifier nation will compete in Pool C at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10. Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Israel and a qualifier nation will compete in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6-11.
The quarterfinals will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park. On the other side of the bracket, the Pool C runner-up will play the Pool D winner on March 13, and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
The semifinals will take place March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game scheduled for March 17.
(AP Photo/Jeff Le)
