Pedro Pagés is turning heads—and silencing critics—by proving he belongs behind the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals.
For fans and analysts who once questioned his value, especially given his underwhelming offensive stats, Pagés is rapidly rewriting the narrative. The Cardinals’ coaching staff, front office, and—most importantly—their pitchers have long praised his defensive work and game management. Now, the numbers and on-field results are backing up their belief.
A defining moment came Friday night, when Sonny Gray delivered one of the most dominant starts in recent memory—a complete game, one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts on just 89 pitches. After the game, Gray made a statement that said it all: he brought Pagés in for the postgame interview. A rare gesture that underlined the catcher’s role in orchestrating the masterpiece.
Gray even revealed that the only pitch he shook off Pagés on all night resulted in the single hit he allowed. Had he followed Pagés’ call, the perfection might have remained intact.
“The one time I didn’t go with Pedro’s call, it cost me,” Gray admitted, acknowledging Pagés’ influence on his near-historic outing.
It’s hard to overstate how special Gray’s outing was. According to Jomboy Media’s Dalton Feely, Gray became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw a complete game with 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 11+ strikeouts, and under 90 pitches.
If not for that lone hit—which, by Gray’s own admission, came on a pitch he called himself—he might’ve made baseball history with a perfect game.
Pagés’ value is even more evident when you compare team performance by catcher. In 60 games with Pagés behind the plate this season, Cardinals pitchers have posted a 3.63 ERA. When Yohel Pozo catches, that ERA jumps to 4.13 across 21 games. And when Iván Herrera is behind the dish, the ERA soars to 5.35 over 14 games.
Though the sample sizes with Pozo and Herrera are smaller, the trend reflects what many inside the Cardinals’ organization have been saying all along: Pagés improves the staff.
This isn’t a one-year phenomenon either. In 2024, Pagés helped guide the staff to a 3.80 ERA—better than Herrera (4.20) and veteran Willson Contreras (4.15)—over a similar number of games.
Beyond game-calling, Pagés also ranks well defensively in controlling the running game and pitch framing. Still, fan frustration about his offense is understandable. Among catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, he ranks 19th out of 21 in wRC+ (72). In high-leverage moments, he’s delivered less than expected with a 61 wRC+, and he’s slightly below average with runners in scoring position (93 wRC+).
Yet, his leadership, instincts, and ability to command a game from behind the plate may be enough to outweigh his shortcomings at the plate—especially on a team that continues to lean on pitching.
The long-term outlook remains uncertain. Iván Herrera still has upside, and prospects like Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Rainiel Rodriguez are coming through the pipeline. But for now, Pedro Pagés is earning his keep, and the Cardinals are benefiting from his presence behind the plate.
As fans, it might be time to give Pagés the respect he’s quietly earned—not with his bat, but with his brain, glove, and leadership.
