Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | STL | C | 3 | 50 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Matt Thompson
Age: 21 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man
Physical Description: Lean, athletic build with strong wrists and lower half. Looked noticeably larger in Arizona Fall League compared to my early looks while with Low-A Peoria. Has done a great job adding mass to frame while maintaining athleticism.
Hit: Made a significant stance adjustment from when I saw him while he was in Low-A. During his time with Peoria he sat much lower in a crouch at the plate with a wider base. During the AFL he was more upright and was slightly opened with the front foot curled inwards. He picks up his front foot and sets it down to begin his swing, and will transfer his weight back and sit on his lower half before attacking. Strong contact skills and will use all fields. Hits the ball hard with a short, compact stroke. Grade: 55
Power: Per FanGraphs Herrera has recorded a max exit velocity of 108 MPH, which shows what he's capable of when he finds the barrel. I can confirm a 105 EV off the bat as well. Herrera will be more gap-to-gap than an over the fence power bat. It's a swing geared for contact and he could swat 20 homers as he matures. Displayed average to slightly above-average pop during batting practice in Arizona. He has the ability to hit for more power at the expense of some of the bat to ball skills. Grade: 40
Field: The bat is ahead of the glove but Herrera has made tremendous improvements behind the dish. He still needs to work on his receiving and some issues with the transfer, but he's worked to become a better blocker. He moves well side to side and will get in front of pitches when he needs to. Strong footwork and good hands behind the plate, but has issues getting the ball out of his glove on the transfer. I see him as an above-average defender in the future. Grade: 45
Arm: Short arm stroke with enough carry to make baserunners think twice, Herrera has improved his throwing due to an offseason arm strengthening program. He's very accurate but can be slow getting out of the crouch at times despite his athleticism. Grade: 50
Run: Below-average runner, but speed isn't part of his game. Grade: 40
Overall: Herrera looked like a very different player when I saw him early in 2019 compared to later at the Fall League, where he was the league's second youngest player behind Mariners Julio Rodriguez. He performed well against the older competition, which is nothing new. The Cardinals have pushed Herrera aggressively despite his age and he's always been an above-average offensive player. That's a good trend. Herrera does everything well enough to be the team's next franchise catcher.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular
Risk: Moderate
