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In the seventh inning of his first career start in the majors, Crooks drove a 3-2 sweeper from Reds lefty Sam Moll 384 feet to right field to check off three career firsts after he struck out and flew out in his first two at-bats Sunday in a 7-4 loss to Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park.

“It’s what you dream of,� Crooks said Monday while standing in front of his locker at Busch Stadium.

The home run made Crooks the first Cardinal to homer for his first hit in the majors since 2019, when Lane Thomas did so. Crooks, 24, became the third catcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat, after Bill Warwick (1925) an Ray Stephens (1990).

Reflecting on his homer, Crooks said he remembers seeing his fly ball clear the wall in right field but doesn’t remember much in the moments that followed as he rounded the bases and returned to the dugout.

“I don’t remember it. I blacked out. I’m not going to lie to you. I blacked out,� Crooks said.

Called up Friday from Class AAA Memphis after Yohel Pozo was placed on the seven-day injured list with a concussion, Crooks made his MLB debut Friday as a defensive substitution in the ninth inning of a win over the Reds that took 10 innings to complete. Crooks caught two scoreless inning in the win but did not take an at-bat.

When he stepped in to the batter’s box for his third at-bat during Sunday’s series finale, Crooks took a sweeper for a strike and whiffed at a second one to begin the at-bat. He laid off two sweepers and a fastball to work the count full against the Reds lefty before connecting on a sweeper over the middle of the plate.

“It’s very unique that I got my first hit as a homer run, but I took it a game at a time — just my (at-bats) at a time,� Crooks said. “The first two didn’t go my way, but I stuck with my approach and got what I can do with what pitch I can do it with and just did it. It was fun. To have all my family there, it was very special.�

Beginning the year as the Cardinals’ top catching prospect, Crooks spent time in big league spring training as a non-roster invitee before opening the minor league season as Memphis’ primary catcher. Crooks, the 2024 Cardinals minor league player of the year, batted .274 with 14 homers and a .778 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 98 games for Memphis.

A stretch in the majors to end the 2025 season gives him an opportunity to grow on and off the field.

“I thought he did a really nice job,� Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said of Crooks’ first start. “He’ll continue to get better from a prep standpoint, as he gets more exposure to some of the pitchers meetings and the feedback the following day of what went well, what didn’t go well, that type of stuff. I thought he handled it, receiving, blocking, all of it, well, and then the game call, and I thought he did a nice job.�

Donovan makes ‘progress’

All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan (left groin strain) fielded ground balls early Monday and has had his physical activity level increase to a point where he’s been able to run, field, throw and hit off of a pitching machine.

On Tuesday, Donovan is expected to go through pregame workouts similar to Monday’s. How Donovan’s body responds to the back-to-back days of workouts will offer “a better timeline� for when he could begin a rehab assignment, Marmol said.

Scott activated, Roycroft recalled

With active rosters across the majors expanding Monday to 28 players, the Cardinals activated Victor Scott II (left ankle sprain) from the injured list and recalled right-handed reliever Chris Roycroft from Class AAA Memphis to fill the two open spots on their active roster.

Scott, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 17, appeared in three rehab games with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) over the weekend. Scott absence from Monday’s starting lineup upon his IL activation was for regular rest after he played in three consecutive games over the weekend, Marmol said. Scott is expected to be available to start Tuesday.

O’Brien undergoes imaging, plays catch

After undergoing imaging on his right shoulder early Monday, reliever Riley O’Brien got clearance to test his arm and played catch prior to Monday’s series opener at Busch Stadium vs. the Athletics. A review of the MRI was encouraging for the team, which decided late Monday not to place the reliever on the injured list and see if he could return in a couple of days.

O’Brien said he felt good letting loose throws at about 120 feet and did not feel the same restrictions he had this past weekend.

O’Brien, 30, hasn’t appeared in game since Thursday. He said he first felt a “little bit of extra soreness and tightness� in his shoulder about a week ago from Monday. Some of the sensations of soreness and tightness has lessened since, but he described a lingering discomfort.