By Rob Rains
The Cardinals realize that having two top prospects, who play the same position, together on the same team isn’t necessarily normal or the ideal situation for their development.
Yet with catchers Jimmy Crooks and Leo Bernal, they didn’t really think there was an option to do anything else but have both of them playing at Triple A Memphis.
Two months into the season, everyone involved has the same takeaway about how the job-share arrangement has gone thus far.
“We’re making it work,” said Memphis manager Ben Johnson.
Crooks, who will be 25 in July, is nearly three years older than Bernal, who turned 22 last February. Crooks spent most of last season at Triple A, with a short stay in the majors, while Bernal has moved up from Double A Springfield, where he played all of last season.
“Jimmy has more experience at that level so they are not exactly at the same point in their development,” said Chaim Bloom, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. “We definitely thought that was the right level for both of them to keep growing.”
Going into Wednesday night’s game at Omaha, the two have almost an equal amount of games behind the plate; Crooks appearing in 25 games, one more than Bernal. Crook also has been used 13 times as the DH, while Bernal also has played nine games at first base and has been the DH eight times.
“The nice thing about that position is you usually are not back there every single day,” Bloom said. “We like our catchers to be able to play somewhere else on the field and in the lineup. It’s worked out to where they can both develop.”
Crooks and Bernal both believe the job-share is working, for a couple of reasons. They get along well, and they realize that a lot of the work at the catching position is done off the field, with preparing a game plan and deciding how to attack an opposing lineup.
Both have been able to do that, even on days they are not catching.
“What’s really great is that these guys have bought into when they are not in the lineup, what their pre-game looks like and they are really going hard,” Johnson said. “Kudos to those two for taking it seriously. They are growing in a lot of different facets behind the plate.
“It’s not easy. It’s a collaborative process. We’ve got two really young, really good players and we are excited about both. I like where they are headed right now.”
Bloom saw that first-hand on a recent trip to Memphis.
“I sat in on some of their meetings and it was cool to see those guys continue to grow in their ability to take charge of the room and take charge of the game plan,” Bloom said. “They are both making real strides.
“So much of what the catchers do is before the game. It’s cerebral, it’s mental, and you can work on that equally when you are playing or not playing as long as the staff holds you accountable. Our group has been able to execute that.”
Crooks has had a good offensive start to his season, hitting 13 homers in his first 38 games. He is tied with Blaze Jordan with 29 RBIs, trailing only Joshua Baez.
That is actually one part of his success this season that has been somewhat of a surprise to Crooks, who has never hit more than 14 homers in a season either in college or in the minor leagues.
“It’s been there, I’ve just never really showcased it honestly,” Crooks said. “I’m just trying to stay with my approach and limit the chase. It’s definitely new for me.”
Johnson has seen improvement from both players on defense as well, where they both have had the luxury of spending several days with Yadier Molina, who has made two trips to Memphis so far this season.
“When you are around that type of catcher, you just enjoy the moment,” Bernal said. “He talks to us, and teaches us, which is great. When you have the best catcher in the world teaching you, and you have the right mentality and the momentum to learn, you are in a good spot.”
Crooks has enjoyed that time with Molina as well and is trying to implement the advice he has received.
“We are like a sponge around him, trying to soak up as much information as we can,” Crooks said.
On the days that Molina has been in Memphis, working with Crooks and Bernal, Johnson enjoys sitting back and watching – while he also is learning more about the game at the same time.
“I think what Yadi is really, really good at is not only his competitive spirit but he’s really good at game calling,” Johnson said. “That’s an area where everyone can grow, especially when you hear him talk about it. He just sees so much and it’s really great to just have him around and listen to how he sees the game, how he simplifies things.”
What Johnson wants to see from both Crooks and Bernal moving forward is just to continue to refine their skills.
“With Bernal, his bat just needs a little more time in the oven. Pitching at this level, you’ve got really good talent coming up and you have experienced guys coming down. That makes for really good matchups.”
Bloom sees the Triple A level as the perfect spot right now for both Crooks and Bernal.
“Leo has a little less experience so there are some things he just doesn’t have as much of a foundation in doing,” Bloom said. “The good thing about that level is that it’s the only minor-league level with a lot of veteran guys so both of them are working with guys who have spent significant time in the big leagues and understand themselves and have gone through different evolutions in their career.
“They need a partner back there (catching) to work with them. That’s a pretty high standard that you don’t see at other levels in the minor leagues.”
Crooks got into 15 games in the major leagues last season and if both he and Bernal continue to develop, they are going to be major-league ready before long. At that time, Bloom knows, the Cardinals’ catching situation will become very interesting.
“It was a great experience to be up there last season to get my feet wet and know what it’s all about,” Crooks said. “When I do get back there, there will be nothing new.”
The Cardinals already have Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo at the major-league level. Herrera has been catching two out of every five games, with Pages getting the other three. Pozo has caught only sparingly but has been a valuable right-handed bat.
“We’re happy with how that’s going,” Bloom said. “The biggest thing with Herrera is wanting him to progress in the right way behind the plate, but we want him in the lineup every single day. We like where that balance is.”
In addition to the major-league catchers who are ahead of Crooks and Bernal, the Cardinals have a prospect ranked even higher than both of them coming right behind them, Rainiel Rodriguez, playing at Springfield. Rodriguez will be 19 all season, one of the youngest players at the Double A level.
Bloom is well aware that there will be decisions he will have to make at some point in the future.
“That’s a good thing,” he said. “Those are things that sometimes reveal themselves over time. Sometimes you may have to be proactive at a certain point in deciding how you want to allocate the opportunities. But for where we are right now, everybody is doing exactly what they need to do and progressing the way they need to progress.
“I hope it continues that way and we end up having tougher decisions as time goes on because that means everyone is playing well. That’s what you want. It doesn’t bother me at all. I wish we had this type of logjam everywhere in our system.”
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Photos or Bernal and Crooks courtesy of Memphis Redbirds
