​The Sporting News reports that Ivan Herrera earned his first All-Star selection after Shohei Ohtani withdrew from the Midsummer Classic. The St. Louis Cardinals will be represented again at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, with Herrera stepping in as Ohtani’s replacement. Ohtani cited knee irritation for his withdrawal, and the Cardinals designated hitter and catcher was chosen to fill the spot, marking the 26-year-old catcher’s inaugural All-Star honor in his major league career.
Herrera’s selection is a well-deserved acknowledgment of one of the National League’s most productive offensive catchers, and it adds another Cardinals representative during what has been a promising first half for the club. Herrera’s journey to an All-Star berth has not followed a straight path. He signed with the Cardinals as an international free agent from Panama in 2016, steadily advancing through the farm system before making his major league debut in 2022. While his bat showed promise, injuries early in his career limited his ability to establish himself as a regular contributor.
That dynamic shifted in 2026. Herrera has started all 92 of the Cardinals’ games through Friday, providing durability and contributing at the plate. He’s hitting .249 with a .384 on-base percentage and .395 slugging, including 11 home runs and 40 RBIs. His eye at the plate has been outstanding, as evidenced by his 51 walks, which have helped him reach base at a high rate for a catcher and designated hitter, giving St. Louis a steady presence in the middle of the lineup.
While his traditional counting numbers may not jump off the page at first glance, Herrera’s plate discipline has made him one of the league’s most valuable offensive catchers. His ability to reach base consistently has been a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ offense, and his development has translated into widely recognized value beyond raw stats. The All-Star selection underscores an upward arc for Herrera, who followed a .301 batting average in 2024 with a 19-homer breakout in 2025, demonstrating that his production is legitimate and sustainable. His contributions behind the plate and at designated hitter only enhance his overall value to the club.
With Herrera’s selection, the Cardinals join Jordan Walker and Riley O’Brien as players heading to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game, and manager Oliver Marmol will be part of the National League staff. Given the expectations surrounding St. Louis at the start of the season, this selection stands as an impressive milestone.
The 2026 season has seen the Cardinals cultivate a younger core while remaining competitive, with Walker, Herrera, and rookie JJ Wetherholt helping accelerate the rebuilding timeline. Herrera’s recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects years of development within the organization. Since signing as a teenager from Panama, he has continued to grow and refine his game, earning a well-deserved spot among the sport’s elite players for the midseason showcase.