Jimmy Crooks Bio
James Dale Crooks II, known professionally as Jimmy Crooks, is an American professional baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on July 19, 2001, he made his Major League debut in 2025 after being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Known for his right-handed bat and defensive work behind the plate, Crooks has progressed steadily through the Cardinals’ farm system.
A graduate of Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, Crooks built a strong collegiate foundation at McLennan Community College and the University of Oklahoma before turning professional. He has shown promise as a contact-oriented hitter with developing power, attributes that have defined his ascent from rookie ball to the majors.
Early Life and Background
Jimmy Crooks grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, where he attended Trinity High School in Euless. At Trinity, he developed into a respected catching prospect, balancing his baseball training with his academic responsibilities. His performances in high school drew attention from college programs across the region.
Following his prep career, Crooks played college baseball at McLennan Community College, where he established himself as a polished defender and a reliable offensive contributor. He later transferred to the University of Oklahoma, continuing his development in one of the stronger college baseball conferences in the country. During the summer of 2021, he joined the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a prestigious collegiate summer league known for showcasing top amateur talent.
Path to Baseball
Crooks’ amateur trajectory followed a conventional path for elite catching prospects. After establishing himself at the high school level, he sharpened his game in junior college at McLennan before testing himself against higher-level competition at Oklahoma. The Cape Cod League stint in 2021 offered him exposure to professional-level coaching and helped solidify his draft stock.
By the time the 2022 MLB Draft arrived, Crooks had built a résumé that combined strong defensive fundamentals with a steady bat. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the fourth round with the 127th overall pick, validating his development and setting the stage for his professional career.
Jimmy Crooks Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Crooks began his professional career in 2022 with the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals. In his first professional season, he appeared in 23 games and batted .266, offering an early glimpse of his offensive capabilities. The assignment served as an introduction to the daily rhythms of professional baseball.
In 2023, Crooks advanced to the High-A Peoria Chiefs, where he spent the bulk of his campaign. He also appeared in one game with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, a brief but meaningful taste of upper-level competition. Across 115 total appearances that year, he hit .271 with 12 home runs and 73 runs batted in, demonstrating both contact skills and emerging power. After the season, he joined the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League, a traditional postseason developmental opportunity for top prospects.
Double-A Springfield Cardinals Breakthrough (2024)
Crooks opened the 2024 season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, marking his first full year at one of the upper rungs of the minor league ladder. Over ninety games, he batted .321, establishing himself as one of the more consistent offensive performers in the Cardinals’ system.
During that campaign, he added 11 home runs and 62 runs batted in, reinforcing his profile as a catcher who could impact games both at the plate and behind it. His strong Double-A season positioned him for a promotion to Triple-A and, eventually, the major leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
Crooks was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to open the 2025 season. On August 29, 2025, the Cardinals selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. That same night, he made his MLB debut against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, catching the final two innings without registering a plate appearance. The Cardinals ultimately won the game 7-5 in ten innings.
Two days later, on August 31, Crooks made his first MLB start against the Reds and recorded his first Major League hit, a solo home run off Cincinnati reliever Sam Moll. He went on to appear in 15 games during his rookie campaign, batting .133/.152/.244 with one home run and one run batted in. To begin 2026, the Cardinals optioned him back to Triple-A Memphis to continue his development.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a catcher, Crooks is valued for his defensive fundamentals, including receiving, blocking, and game-calling responsibilities. Offensively, his profile is built around contact and on-base skills, with the power he displayed in the minor leagues providing additional upside. His Cape Cod League and college experiences helped prepare him for the strategic demands of catching at higher levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Crooks’ first Major League hit, a solo home run on August 31, 2025, stands as an early career milestone. His rapid progression from Single-A in 2022 to the major leagues in 2025 reflects the Cardinals’ confidence in his long-term potential as a backstop.
Jimmy Crooks Career Wins
As a position player, Jimmy Crooks’ career milestones are measured in offensive achievements, defensive performances, and promotions rather than traditional wins. His résumé includes a strong Double-A season, multiple minor league assignments, and an MLB debut.
Minor League Highlights
Crooks batted .321 across ninety games with Double-A Springfield in 2024, recording 11 home runs and 62 runs batted in. Earlier, in 2023, he hit .271 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI across High-A and Triple-A appearances. In his first professional season of 2022 with Single-A Palm Beach, he batted .266 in 23 games.
Other Wins and Performances
Crooks participated in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions after the 2023 season, a notable developmental honor for top prospects. His 2025 MLB debut, capped by his first Major League home run, marked the most significant milestone of his professional career to date.
Jimmy Crooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jimmy Crooks’ immediate family background is limited. He is identified as James Dale Crooks II, indicating a family naming tradition, but further details about his parents and siblings have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Crooks has focused much of his public attention on his baseball career since being drafted in 2022. Information about his spouse and children is not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Jimmy Crooks opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, where he continued his offensive development before receiving his first major league opportunity. His promotion on August 29, 2025, came as the Cardinals looked to evaluate their catching depth during the late stages of the season.
Across 15 appearances with St. Louis, Crooks batted .133/.152/.244 with one home run and one run batted in, modest numbers that reflected the typical adjustment period for a young catcher facing major league pitching. His first Major League hit, a solo home run off Sam Moll on August 31, provided an early highlight of his big-league tenure.
With the Cardinals opting to option him to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2026 season, Crooks’ outlook centers on refining his offensive approach and defensive consistency. His mix of contact skills, developing power, and catching fundamentals suggests continued opportunity within the St. Louis organization.
