Following a season that began with a start at catcher on opening day but has been spent primarily as a designated hitter, Cardinals slugger Ivan Herrera is set to use the upcoming offseason to prepare to head into spring training in 2026 as a catcher.

Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said he, incoming president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and Herrera have discussed what Herrera’s winter “needs to look like” for the 25-year-old to have the “best opportunity” to do so.

Improving arm strength and preparation with game calling will be two integral areas for Herrera ahead of next spring.

“It's going to be an important off-season for him, but as we go into it, it's with the full expectation of him doing this well and having an opportunity to catch,” Marmol said.

Of the 99 big-league game

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