Cardinals Catcher Willson Contreras Fractures Forearm, Sidelined for Six Weeks
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has suffered a devastating blow to his season, fracturing his left forearm after being struck by a swing during Tuesday night’s game against the New York Mets. The three-time All-Star is expected to undergo surgery and miss at least six weeks of action.
Contreras was injured in the second inning when Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez swung and connected with his forearm. The impact sent Contreras tumbling to the ground in agony. After being examined by the Cardinals’ training staff, he was diagnosed with a left forearm fracture.
The injury is a major setback for the Cardinals, who have relied heavily on Contreras’s leadership and offensive production. The 31-year-old is hitting .280 with six homers and 12 RBIs this season.
“He’s been doing such a phenomenal job,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “He’s an extreme competitor. He brings so much to the club performance-wise, but also with just his competitive nature, so to see him go down is tough.”
Contreras expressed his disappointment at missing significant time, but vowed to support his teammates from the sidelines.
“I’m really upset missing,” Contreras said. “I know that it’s going to be tough for me to watch the games and not out there with the guys, but I’m going to do my best to stay present, pick each other up and cheer for them because that’s the best thing I can do.”
Martinez, who was awarded first base due to catcher’s interference, expressed remorse for the incident.
“I hit meat,” Martinez said. “I felt like I hit meat. I didn’t hit like just like a glove where you kind of just point back to catcher, it was just solid. I was like, dude, I hit him good. … I felt terrible.”
Contreras’s injury is a reminder of the inherent risks involved in baseball. Despite the protective gear worn by catchers, they are often vulnerable to being struck by foul tips or wild swings.
The Cardinals will now turn to Iván Herrera to fill the void behind the plate. Herrera, a 26-year-old prospect, has limited major league experience but has shown promise in the minors.
