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A year ago, while in the Arizona Fall League, Cardinals prospect Jimmy Crooks found himself needing to adjust the frequency of his playing time.

At the time, Crooks had come off a first full minor league season that included playing in 115 regular season games as Class High-A Peoria’s primary catcher. But while in the fall league, Crooks went from being an everyday player for Peoria to having the second-fewest plate appearances among players on his team.

That experience and adjustments to the playing time set the stage for the 23-year-old to produce a 2024 season that earned him Cardinals minor league player of the year and Texas League MVP honors.

“That was more of a mental thing for me out there because I go from playing every day to playing like once or twice during the week. … The level of competition out there was really good,” Crooks said earlier this month via Zoom. “I mean, you’re facing pitchers that are just dudes in each program. It was good. It was good for me.”

During his second full minor league season, the fourth-round pick from the 2023 MLB draft batted .321 with a .410 on-base percentage, and a .498 slugging percentage in 90 regular season games with Class AA Springfield. Crooks hit 11 home runs, 19 doubles, and drove in 62 runs during a season that had some limitations because of a hamstring injury and a broken finger. Crooks’ .908 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) led Cardinals minor leaguers who had 350 or more plate appearances and was fifth among catching prospects across the minors who met the same qualifications.

In 81 games from behind the plate, Crooks threw out 25 of 76 stolen base attempts for a 33% caught stealing rate — a 6% increase from his 2023 rate — and showed improvements with blocking and receiving.

Crooks’ efforts helped Springfield to a franchise-best 79-59 record and a second consecutive playoff appearance.

“Definitely the combination of defense and hitting, being able to do both makes you dream that he could be an everyday big league catcher,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said of Crooks during a phone interview in September. “… I’ve been surprised with everything that he has brought to the table. I saw the talent, obviously, but being able to do it on a consistent basis is not an easy thing to do, especially with the position that he plays. But he’s grown in his leadership, too, and the guys like throwing to him. He cares. He’s a winner.”

The breakout season made Crooks the third catcher to be named Cardinals minor league player of the year. He positioned himself as the organization’s top catching prospect heading into 2025 and is expected to be Class AAA Memphis’ everyday catcher next season.

“I’m still trying to figure out the little routines and trying to stay healthy because I did have two injuries this year,” Crooks said. “I think it’s more of a mental thing for me to where this next coming year or spring training, just have a better routine with myself, try to stay healthy, and just keep working with it.”

This past season, Crooks landed on the injured list on April 20 after suffering a hamstring injury during a road series in Amarillo, Texas. He returned to Springfield’s lineup on May 1 and produced a .266/.420/.344 slash line in the first 20 games he played in upon his return. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter kicked off June with a four-hit game, which began a 57-game stretch where he batted .335 with a .558 slugging percentage and a .962 before landing on the IL on Aug. 27 with a broken finger.

Crooks returned from the finger injury on Sept. 10 and had seven hits in 25 at-bats in seven games — three of which were postseason games.

“It’ll help me mentally and physically to where I need to start working on all that stuff so that I could just play pretty much a whole season without one injury. But it’s kind of hard in the position that I am,” Crooks said of the injuries he faced.

What Crooks learned from the time he missed during the regular season will help shape his offseason.

This offseason, Crooks looks to add more explosiveness in his lower half, more notably in his hamstrings. He feels that improvements in that area can benefit him in getting stronger and finding more torque in his swing. It would also benefit him in preventing fatigue in his legs that comes with a full season of catching.

With his swing, he feels there is “a little tinkering around with it” to be done that could unlock some more power while keeping his same approach. He described a similar process of minor adjustments and a consistent approach as a key that helped him to a career-best .498 slugging percentage this past season.

As for his work behind the plate, “repetition” in the fundamentals will be a focus ahead of a 2025 season where he is expected to be in a prominent role and a step away from the majors.

“I’m starting to get more comfortable as we go,” Crooks said. “That’s what I feel like. I start to get a lot more comfortable with game calling, just how I play, and everything like that. I guess as the years go on, I’m going to start getting more comfortable, trust my stuff, and then get after it.”