Cardinals Rookie Jimmy Crooks blasts a Home Run in first MLB at-bat
Strap in, St. Louis fans, because the future just arrived with a bang. On Sunday afternoon, one of the Cardinals’ most intriguing young prospects, Jimmy Crooks, announced himself to the big leagues in dramatic fashion. And he didn’t just sneak a single through the infield — no, Crooks went big, sending his very first career hit soaring into the right-field seats for a round tripper. THAT’S how to make a Major League entrance.
The rookies really are showing some promise, like Nathan Church with his first hit and homer in the same game. Or Michael McGreevy filling in nicely in the starting rotation. And that doesn’t include the phenom, JJ Weatherholt who might be stuck in Triple A until 2026.
The story started earlier in the weekend when veteran catcher Yohel Pozo landed on the Injured List with a concussion, opening the door for the 23-year-old Crooks, the Cardinals’ No. 6 prospect, to join the big-league club. He got his feet wet Friday night as a late-game substitution, sat out on Saturday, and then finally got his name penciled into the starting lineup on Sunday. By the time the day was over, everyone in Busch Stadium knew his name.
Set the Scene
In the seventh inning, with St. Louis trailing by two runs, the Cardinals rookie stepped up with ice in his veins. He worked the count, saw his pitch, and let it rip. The crack of the bat was unmistakable. As the ball carried into the right-field seats, Crooks circled the bases with a smile that could be seen from the Arch. Just like that, his first hit, his first home run, and his first major-league moment were all rolled into one unforgettable swing.
The Cardinals couldn’t quite finish the comeback and dropped the game 7-4, but Crooks’ homer was the clear highlight. For fans, it was a glimpse of what could be in the years to come. Before his call-up, Crooks was crushing it in Triple-A Memphis, slashing .274/.337/.441 with 14 home runs, 79 RBIs, 21 doubles, and a triple across 98 games. Those numbers scream potential, and Sunday’s blast just underlined the point: this kid can hit.
We got a lot of catchers!
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, Crooks has steadily climbed the organizational ladder. Known for his power and steady glove behind the plate, he’s quickly becoming one of the most interesting names in the Cardinals’ crowded catching room. With Pedro Pagés, Pozo, Iván Herrera, and now Crooks all in the mix — and even more catching talent on the way in the minors — St. Louis has a fascinating puzzle to solve heading into 2026. Don’t forget that Willson Contreras is also a catcher, albeit one with anger issues and likely out the door next year, and who happens to be serving a 6 game suspension right now.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Crooks. His debut weekend showed both the nerves and the promise of a rookie just breaking through. And while it’s still unclear how long he’ll stick with the big club once Pozo returns, one thing is certain: the Cardinals’ No. 6 prospect just gave fans a reason to dream about what’s next.
Sometimes all it takes is one swing to change the conversation. For Cardinals rookie Jimmy Crooks, that swing came on a sunny Sunday afternoon in St. Louis — and it might just be the beginning of something special.
