The Baltimore Orioles claimed catcher Yohel Pozo off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday and immediately optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
Pozo, 29, was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on July 17 to clear a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Scott Blewett, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Memphis. The Venezuelan backstop cleared waivers just in time for Baltimore to scoop him up.
In limited action with St. Louis this season, Pozo went 8-for-33 (.242) with five RBI and no home runs across 18 games. He spent time as the team’s third catcher behind the primary options and saw some time as a pinch-hitter. He also logged time at Triple-A Memphis earlier in the year.
Pozo’s MLB career numbers stand at .247 with six home runs and 33 RBI in 267 at-bats over parts of three seasons with the Texas Rangers (2021) and Cardinals (2025-26). Known more for his defense and ability to handle a pitching staff than for big offensive production, he has drawn positive marks for his framing and has posted solid caught-stealing rates in the minors. He carries a career .295 average across nearly 3,000 minor-league at-bats.
For the Orioles, the claim adds catching depth at the upper levels of the system. Pozo will report to Norfolk, where he can stay sharp and provide organizational depth behind the major-league group. The move gives Baltimore a low-risk addition with big-league experience who can be shuttled if needed.
Pozo originally signed with the Cardinals on a minor-league deal before the 2025 season, earned a promotion that year, and returned on a major-league split contract for 2026 after a brief free-agency stint following non-tender. His time in St. Louis included a memorable walk-off single earlier this season.
