Cardinals Promote Prospects Jimmy Crooks, Cesar Prieto to MLB

The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted two promising prospects, catcher Jimmy Crooks and infielder César Prieto, to their Major League roster as they push for a playoff spot. Crooks, the 2024 Double-A Texas League MVP, has shown strong offensive performance in Triple-A Memphis, hitting .274 with 14 home runs, while Prieto, a Cuban defector and former Baltimore Orioles prospect, has been a consistent contributor with a .295 average and nine home runs. Both players are expected to join the Cardinals in Cincinnati, with Alec Burleson and Yohel Pozo moving to the injured list as corresponding roster moves. Crooks is regarded as a potential long-term solution behind the plate, ranking among the Cardinals' top catching prospects, while Prieto has an inspiring backstory of defecting from Cuba during an Olympic qualifying trip and working his way through the minor leagues. The Cardinals, holding a 68-66 record, are currently four games behind the final National League wildcard spot, making these promotions critical for their late-season push.