Three days after the Cardinals non-tendered catcher Yohel Pozo, the likable backup and clutch pinch-hitter returned to the club via a one-year deal, the Cards announced on Monday.
Pozo, who once battled through homelessness and morphed into one of the best feel-good stories in all of baseball in 2025, tied for second in MLB in pinch-hit RBIs, with seven. Wildly popular with teammates and Cardinals coaches because of his infectiously cheerful outlook and calmness under pressure, the 28-year-old Pozo was the team’s winner of the Darryl Kile Award following the 2025 season.
The Cardinals also re-signed right-handed pitcher Sem Robberse to a Minor League deal on Monday – three days after he, too, was non-tendered to create space on the 40-man roster. The Cards also signed right-hander Scott Blewett to a Minor League contract with an invitation to MLB Spring Training.
Pozo, who came to the Cardinals on a Minor League deal last January, was promoted to the big leagues in April when catcher Iván Herrera went on the injured list with left knee inflammation. Having made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2021, Pozo quickly meshed with the Cardinals and homered in his first game with St. Louis.
Pozo soon became a weapon off the bench for the Cards. As a pinch-hitter, he had six hits, two doubles and a game-winning home run (July 5 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field). Overall, he hit .231 with five homers, eight doubles and 19 RBIs in 67 games.
Robberse, a 24-year-old native of the Netherlands, made four starts in 2025 for Triple-A Memphis before needing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He pitched well in 2024 for Single-A Palm Beach and Memphis, going 5-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 90 1/3 innings.
Blewett, 28, has pitched in 43 games at the MLB level. In 2025, he was 3-0 with a 5.48 ERA in 26 games with the Twins, Orioles and Braves.