MLB news: Panama’s Leonardo Bernal in line for Cardinals call-up

Leonardo Bernal’s early exit from a Triple-A game may have signaled the biggest move yet in the young Panamanian’s rise through professional baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals are planning to promote him to the major leagues for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to MLB Pipeline.

Bernal left the Memphis Redbirds’ game against the Charlotte Knights during the bottom of the third inning. He had been playing first base before Dakota Harris replaced him. The 22-year-old was not injured, making the timing of his departure the clearest indication that a call-up could be imminent.

Francys Romero, a reporter and member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, said Bernal could join the Cardinals for their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1. A promotion would make him the 73rd player born in Panama to play in the major leagues.

Signed in 2021, Bernal has steadily moved up the minor-league system and is now ranked as the Cardinals’ No. 7 prospect. He appeared in 101 Triple-A games for Memphis this season, splitting his time between catcher and first base. He recorded 104 hits in 375 at-bats for a .278 batting average, along with 16 home runs, 67 runs scored and 77 RBIs. His slugging percentage was .468, his on-base percentage was .363 and his OPS stood at .831.