A catcher playing 2B? Cards get creative on defense in shutout win

ST. LOUIS -- Pedro Pagés literally arrived in the big leagues via Uber in April 2024 when there were no timely flights available between Indianapolis and St. Louis. He also tugged at the heartstrings of the baseball world for a short time last June when he homered twice on Father’s Day weekend with his pops sitting a few rows behind home plate.

As shocking as those events were in his short MLB career, Pagés said Friday’s game -- one in which he was unexpectedly shifted from catcher to a somewhat jittery second baseman -- will go down as the wackiest and most outlandishly funny night.

“Never,” said Pagés, who purposefully paused for effect, “did I think I would play second base in the big leagues!”

By his own best estimation, the 5-foot-11, 245-pound Pagés figures Friday night’s 2-0 win over the Phillies was the first time he had played second base since he was 11 years old and growing up in South Florida. While wearing a borrowed Rawlings glove from teammate Brendan Donovan -- leather adorned with a golden swath to recognize Donovan’s 2022 Gold Glove win -- Pagés handled the two ground balls hit his way as the Cardinals notched their first shutout of 2025.

“I’m a Gold Glover now, apparently,” joked Pagés, whose only outing not at catcher in his 77-game MLB career had come at first base in 2024. “Oh, 100 percent I wanted a double play with [Thomas Saggese] or [Nolan] Arenado because that would have been so cool. But I got two ground balls right at me and it was game over.”

Remarkably, a back injury to standout shortstop Masyn Winn resulted in the Cardinals shifting Pagés from catcher to second in Friday’s second inning. Later in the night, the game truly took on an old-school National League feel as St. Louis had to pinch-hit for pitcher Andre Pallante after they had lost the designated hitter because of its zany substitutions. To add to the wackiness, Yohel Pozo became the first Cardinals catcher to come off the bench and record a three-hit game since Jason Larue did so on July 3, 2010.

While showing concern for the back spasms that are likely to knock Winn out of the lineup for the weekend, Cardinals players also had fun with the likeable Pagés’ work at second base.

“Pedro Wong is what we’re going to start calling him,” Lars Nootbaar said, referring to former Cardinals Gold Glove-winning second baseman, Kolten Wong.

“Pedro should be up for the utility Gold Glove Award,” reserve outfielder Michael Siani joked.

Of serious consternation for the Cardinals is the status of Winn, the 23-year-old standout who overcame back issues early last season and had hoped to play 162 games this season. Winn made a nifty play in the first inning when he charged a high chopper, avoided the second-base bag and threw onto first to beat speedy Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. However, Winn immediately yelled to first baseman Alec Burleson that he needed out of the game because of back pain and then said the same to Arenado at third.

“It will probably cost me a couple of days, which is fine, but I’ve already told them I’m not going on the IL,” said Winn, who had difficulty reaching down to get clothes out of his bag even after an hour of treatment from trainers. “It was similar [to the spasms of 2024]. Last year was actually a little bit worse. I’ve just got to get through this one after the muscles spasmed up. They gave me some stuff for tonight and I’m going to see how it feels [Saturday]. I’m probably out for [Saturday], but hopefully it feels better in a couple of days.”

(Editor's note: Winn ended up being placed on the 10-day IL Saturday.)

Following the injury, the Cardinals moved Saggese from second to shortstop. To avoid having to relinquish the DH, they shockingly moved Pagés from behind the plate to second. Pozo, who was promoted earlier in the week when Iván Herrera went on the injured list, entered as the Cards catcher.

From there, hilarity ensued as Burleson planned to range to his right to help the converted catcher. As for Pallante, he admitted it was weird going from throwing to Pagés to have him aligned behind him.

“It would have been awesome to see [Pagés] make a diving play or turn two, and I’m sure he wanted that, too,” Pallante said of Pagés, who continued to wear the PitchCom device in his ear while at second.

Admitted Pagés, who was given an infielder positioning card upon moving to second: “I was like, ‘I don’t know what that means!’ I was looking at [infield coach Stubby Clapp] and he was telling me where to move.”