The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to add a spark to a lineup that needs it and finally are giving young catcher Jimmy Crooks a shot in the majors this season. Crooks has been the talk of Triple-A Memphis all season to this point. He played in 39 games down in Triple-A and slashed .262/.412/.567 with a .980 OPS, 13 homers and 29 RBIs. Finally, he is getting his shot in the majors. The Cardinals announced the promotion on Friday afternoon.That's not all, though. St. Louis also announced that Spring Training standout outfielder Nelson Velázquez is on his way to the club as well. In response, utility man César Prieto and catcher Yohel Pozo have been demoted down to Triple-A Memphis. C Jimmy Crooks has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).OF Nelson Velázquez has been selected from Memphis.INF César Prieto and C Yohel Pozo have been optioned to Memphis. pic.twitter.com/ZxdT3em72d— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 29, 2026This is a breaking story and will be updated.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Cardinals Finally Promote Jimmy Crooks, Nelson Velázquez: Instant Breakdown
The St. Louis Cardinals are finally giving young catcher Jimmy Crooks a chance.
TL;DRAI
The St. Louis Cardinals promoted catcher Jimmy Crooks (.980 OPS, 13 HR, 29 RBI in 39 Triple-A games) and outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Memphis, demoting Prieto and Pozo. Crooks' .412 OBP directly addresses the lineup's on-base weakness, marking a deliberate roster bet on youth production over veteran depth heading into June.
171 words~1 min read
