With a strong start to his MLB career, smashing two homers and driving in 10 runs in nine games, Leo Bernal is showing why he might be the Cardinals most well-rounded catching prospect since Yadier Molina retired in 2022.
Within an eye-opening three-inning stretch early in Wednesday’s game, when catcher Leo Bernal ended a rally by throwing out a baserunner and started another rally by smashing a three-run homer, the 22-year-old rookie showed why he just might be the Cardinals’ best catching prospect since Yadier Molina.
Molina, for reference, will head into the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame in a special ceremony at Busch Stadium on Saturday. Four seasons after Molina’s retirement in 2022, the Cardinals are still looking for his replacement, and they just might have found it in the rookie who keeps displaying a calmness and completeness that appear to be well beyond his years.
Despite the Cardinals 7-6 collapse against the Giants on Wednesday – one that left them with a disappointing 4-5 record on their three-city, nine-game road trip – Bernal emerged as a huge bright spot with how he played in his first big-league stretch.
Bernal ended the first inning of Wednesday’s game by throwing out Jonah Hill trying to swipe second base. Two innings later, he hit a 1-1 four-seam fastball well above the strike zone for a three-run smash that gave the Cards a seemingly safe lead before another bullpen meltdown in the eighth inning. Despite the loss, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol came away impressed with what he saw again from his rookie catcher.
"He looks the part in a lot of different ways," Marmol told Cardinals TV. "Obviously, physically we're starting to see what he's capable of doing and mentally he's been impressive – with how he thinks about the game and prepares for the game. Then, he goes out there and executes the plan. So, I've been super encouraged by him."
For Bernal, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the St. Louis system prior to his MLB promotion on Sept. 1, he had a rookie road trip for the ages – one that will undoubtedly draw him ovations this weekend when he makes his Busch Stadium debut before Cardinals fans. In his first nine games as a big leaguer, all Bernal did was homer twice, double, smash eight hits and drive in 10 runs.
Looking calm and patient at the plate, Bernal singled in two runs in his MLB debut and then smashed a two-run homer in his second big-league game to aid a Cardinals’ comeback win in Dodgers Stadium.
Bernal bested those feats on Wednesday in San Francisco when he showed off his quick hand and enormous power potential by ripping a fastball well above the strike zone. The 378-foot shot went for the first three-run homer of Bernal’s young career and had the Cardinals in awe of how well the start to his career has gone thus far.
While Bernal saw his career-opening seven-game hitting streak come to an end on Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss to the Giants, he potentially started another streak on Wednesday by bashing his second big league homer. He has been on base in all nine of his MLB games, and his four multi-RBI performances in his first nine games tied a 2001 mark set by legendary slugger Albert Pujols, who will join Molina in the Cardinals Hall of Fame when he is also inducted during a Busch Stadium ceremony on Saturday.
Through nine games, the native of Panama is hitting .278 (10 for 36) with two homers, a double and 10 RBI. Those numbers are in line with the enormous promise he showed the past two seasons while at Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.
Even while teaming with dynamic slugger Joshua Baez, Bernal was Memphis’ best hitter in July – a month when he hit .338 with a 1.143 OPS. He smacked six homers, seven doubles and a triple in the month, while also driving in 24 runs. He cooled off a bit in August (.278 batting average, .748 OPS, two homers, a double and 13 RBI), but his body of work over the season was still strong enough to earn him a big-league promotion.
Bernal’s work behind the plate is also a big part of the total package he offers the Cardinals. He won a Minor League Gold Glove for his defense behind the plate at Double-A Springfield in 2025 but struggled somewhat in Memphis. He had nine errors and five passed balls and threw out just 27.4 percent of base stealers this season with Memphis. However, over his 5 ½-year career in the Minor Leagues, Bernal has thrown out 29.7 percent of base stealers.
Marmol praised Triple-A Memphis coach Ben Johnson and the work the staff has put in to help players like Baez and Bernal thrive once they get to the big leagues.
“They’re doing a really nice job down below, making sure that these guys aren’t just physically ready, but also mentally ready to handle what the big leagues are all about,” Marmol said. “There are so many variables when you are making your debut and (Bernal) is handling it so well. Some of the things he’s picking up early in his career is impressive and the feedback he is giving us and the questions he is asking, I’m loving every single bit of it.”
