THE FIRST 3-HOMER GAME BY A CATCHER OF THE St. Louis Cardinals IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

Iván Herrera becomes the first Cardinals catcher to record a three-homer game in a victory over the Angels.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals signed Ivan Herrera from Panama, and he was thrilled to be a part of an organisation that was home to one of his inspirations, Yadier Molina.

Herrera hit three home runs in St. Louis’ 12-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, a feat that had not been accomplished by Molina, Hall of Famer Ted Simmons, or any other catcher in the Cardinals’ 123-year history.

“In the realm of sports, I believe that this is the most significant moment of my career,” Herrera stated. “I have never hit three home runs in my professional career.” It is a sensation that I am unable to articulate at this time. It is simply a matter of achieving a tie in the major divisions and maintaining our momentum.

In the fourth inning, Herrera launched a solitary home run against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi. In the sixth inning, he hit Kikuchi for a two-run home run, which gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

Herrera then made history in the eighth inning by hitting a 2-0 pitch from Brock Burke 425 feet into the third deck of the left-field seats, resulting in a three-run homer. He finished with three hits, four RBIs, and a walk.

Herrera stated, “It is truly remarkable to undertake an endeavour that has never been attempted before.” “I did not have any financial resources during my childhood.” This is a significant accomplishment for me, my family, and my country. We have a limited number of individuals in the major leagues, but those who do make it there do good things. Therefore, I am attempting to maintain this status quo.

The 24-year-old is the fifth-youngest catcher in major league history to hit three home runs in a single game, and his 12 total bases surpassed the franchise record for a catcher of 10, which was last achieved by his colleague Willson Contreras in 2024.

“That’s amazing,” Contreras said. “I believe that the most significant accomplishment is when you hit three home runs in a single game for the first time for a team and also contribute to the team’s victory.”

Herrera has not participated in a full season in the main leagues since his début on May 25, 2022, one week prior to his 22nd birthday. This season, he serves as the Cardinals’ primary catcher following the team’s decision to transfer Contreras to first base.

Oliver Marmol, the superintendent, stated, “He is a self-assured young man, irrespective of the situation.” “He has been successful throughout his career, and he is currently outperforming some of the most talented individuals in the area.” “The ceiling’s appearance is unknown; however, it is elevated.”