Helped lead Panama to the 2018 Under-15 World Cup Silver Medal...Learned to become a switch-hitter due to routinely beating his younger brother in baseball and wanted to even the playing field...Has partnered with Finlete Funding Inc., which allows fans to invest in his potential Major League career, and then get a return on the investment by receiving a percentage of Bernal’s future earnings. Other Finlete athletes include prospects Yairo Padilla (Cardinals), Echedry Vargas (Marlins), and Jhostynxon Garcia (Red Sox/Pirates)...Admired catchers Yadier Molina and Salvador Perez while growing up...Signed by Damaso Espino...Resides in Panama City, Panama, with his wife, Ambar.
2025
PEntered the year rated as the "Best Defensive Catcher" and No. 12 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America. Following the season, was recognized as the Texas League's "Best Defensive Catcher" in Baseball America's Best Tools Survey...Won the 2025 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award winner at catcher. Joined catcher Carson Kelly (2015) and outfielder Victor Scott II (2023) as the third Cardinals Minor Leaguer to win a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award...Threw out a career-high 39.1% (27 CS/69 SB ATT) of attempted base-stealers. Among the 49 Minor League catchers with at least 600 innings caught, ranked second in stolen bases attempted, fourth in caught stealing percentage and 11th in fielding percentage...Ranked among minor league catching leaders in games (87, fifth), innings caught (747.1, sixth), total chances (890, fifth) and putouts (839)…Set career highs in at-bats (396), home runs (13), doubles (19), extra-base hits (32), runs scored (58), stolen bases (13) and RBI (70), which ranked fourth in the Texas League...At age 21.1, began the season tied with CF Walker Jenkins (MIN) as the third-youngest player in the Texas League behind SS Sebastian Walcott (TEX) and C Ethan Salas (SD)…Named Texas League Player of the Week for the May 19-25 period. Slashed .500/.522/1.000 (10-for-20) with a double, three home runs, 13 RBI and a 1.522 OPS in five games. Marked his first career weekly award, and became first Springfield Cardinals catcher to win the weekly honor since Mike Ohlman (June 1-7, 2015)…Member of the Texas League Champion Springfield Cardinals. Batted .200 (4-for-12) with a triple and four RBI in five postseason games.
2024
Entered the season rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America...Set career highs in games played (110), at-bats (390), hits (102), home runs (11), doubles (18), RBI (44), extra-base hits (31), total bases (157) and stolen bases (7)...Threw out a career-high 34.5% (40 CS/116 SB ATT) of attempted base stealers...Ranked among Minor League leaders in games caught (88, T-second) and innings behind the dish (720.2, seventh)...Batted .273 (18-for-66) in 18 games at designated hitter...At age 20.1, began the season tied for the 10th-youngest player in the Midwest League and was the youngest on Peoria's roster...Led Peoria in RBI (53) and total bases (143)...Batted .262 (77-for-294) vs. left-handed pitchers and .260 (25-for-105) against right-handed hurlers...Slashed .308/.373/.477 (20-for-65) with three home runs and 13 RBI in 18 July games...Promoted to Springfield on Aug. 27...Recorded a season-high four hits on Sept. 10 at San Antonio (AA-Padres)...Batted .400 (4-for-10) with a homer and double in three games of the Texas League postseason.
2023
Rated as the No. 12 prospect in the Cardinals organization by Baseball America...Participated in early workouts and seminars as part of the team's Spring Training Early Program (STEP Camp)...Set career highs in games played (78), at-bats (268), hits (71), doubles (15), RBI (44), extra-base hits (19), walks (49), slugging percentage (.381) and stolen bases (four)...Hit safely in 17 of his first 21 games played, batting .329 (26-for-79) with a .413 on-base pct. and 15 runs scored...Reached base safely in 11 of 13 games started at designated hitter, batting .262 (11-for-42) with four doubles, eight RBI, 10 walks and a .396 on-base pct...Hit a combined .333 (19-for-87) with 19 RBI, 18 walks and 21 runs scored across 26 games on Saturdays and Sundays...A switch hitter, batted .271 (19-for-70) with one double, one home run and 10 RBI vs. left-handed pitchers compared to .263 (52-for-198) with 14 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 34 RBI against right-handed hurlers...Placed on the 7-day injured list on 8/10 through the end of the season with a right hamate fracture...Did not commit an error in his final 34 games played at catcher after 5/28.
