Jimmy Crooks
| Jimmy Crooks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 8 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: July 19, 2001 Euless, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 29, 2025, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics (through September 12, 2025) | |
| Batting average | .100 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 1 |
| Teams | |
| |
James Dale Crooks II (born July 19, 2001) is an American professional baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.
Amateur career
[edit]Crooks attended Trinity High School in Euless, Texas and played college baseball at McLennan Community College and the University of Oklahoma.[1] In 2021, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]
Professional career
[edit]
Crooks was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round, with the 127th overall selection, of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[3]
Crooks made his professional debut in 2022 with the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals, batting .266 over 23 games. He spent the 2023 campaign with the High-A Peoria Chiefs, and also appeared in one game with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, hitting .271 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI across 115 total appearances.[4] After the season, Crooks played in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions.[5] Crooks played the 2024 season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, appearing in ninety games and batting .321 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI.[6]
Crooks was assigned to Memphis to open the 2025 season. On August 29, 2025, the Cardinals selected Crooks' contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his MLB debut that night versus the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, catching the last two innings of the game, without registering a plate appearance. The Cardinals would go on to beat the Reds 7-5 in 10 innings.[8] Crooks made his first MLB start on August 31 against the Reds, and recorded his first MLB hit, a solo home run off of Reds pitcher Sam Moll.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "OU baseball: Jimmy Crooks providing steady offense, leadership for Sooners". Yahoo Sports. June 23, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "#8 Jimmy Crooks - Profile". Pointstreak. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ Guerrero, Daniel (July 26, 2023). "How Cardinals prospect Jimmy Crooks used a toe tap to go from slump to soaring bat". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Guerrero, Daniel (March 15, 2023). "From JUCO to OU, Cardinals prospect Jimmy Crooks embraces change and his path to pros". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Guerrero, Daniel (October 26, 2023). "Cardinals prospect Jimmy Crooks delivers two-hit, three-RBI performance: Fall League Report". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Mike (February 4, 2025). "Top catching prospect Crooks looking to make his mark with Cardinals". Courier-Post.
- ^ Goold, Derrick (August 29, 2025). "Cardinals promote prospects Jimmy Crooks, Cesar Prieto; place Alec Burleson, Yohel Pozo on IL". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ^ "Cards call up No. 6 prospect Crooks, Prieto for MLB debuts". Major League Baseball.
- ^ https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/jimmy-crooks-homers-for-first-mlb-hit
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors)