Willson Contreras exits with injury, suffers fractured forearm

ST. LOUIS — A Cardinals membership already reeling from a languishing offense took one other extreme hit throughout a 7-5 loss to the Mets at Busch Stadium on Tuesday evening, when veteran catcher Willson Contreras suffered a fractured left forearm that may seemingly preserve him out of motion for a number of weeks.

Contreras, the Cardinals’ most constant hitter all season and an improved defensive catcher, left Tuesday’s recreation in apparent ache after he was hit on the left forearm by a swing from slugger J.D. Martinez. Contreras instantly yelled out upon being hit and went to the bottom in ache. He continued to clutch his arm whereas being led off the sphere by trainers. X-rays at Busch Stadium in the end revealed a fracture in Contreras’ left forearm. He was positioned on the 10-day injured listing on Wednesday morning.

“It was numb, and I knew it wasn’t proper,” Contreras mentioned. “As soon as I attempted to do some movement stuff, there was some cracking in [the arm] and I knew it was dangerous.”

Contreras mentioned after the sport that he’ll seemingly have surgical procedure on his arm within the coming days, and docs have advised him that he’ll seemingly want six to eight weeks to get well. He’s already focusing on the MLB All-Star Recreation as a possible return.

Rookie Iván Herrera changed Contreras throughout the recreation. The Cardinals optioned third catcher Pedro Pagés to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday to make room for the return of middle fielder Dylan Carlson; Pagés was faraway from Memphis’ recreation on Tuesday evening for a pinch-hitter after Contreras’ damage, and he was recalled to function the backup catcher behind Herrera for the rapid future.

“[Herrera] got here in asking me how I used to be feeling, and after I mentioned I had a fracture, he put his head down,” Contreras mentioned. “The one factor I advised him was, ‘You don’t must put your head down; you’ll want to choose me up.’ He’s actually good, and he must preserve the identical focus he’s had since Spring Coaching.”

Added the 23-year-old Herrera: “I may also help the group after I’m enjoying rather a lot, getting extra reps and being extra constant. I’m going to try to do my greatest to assist the group win.”

To assist Contreras get extra low strikes for his or her pitchers, the Cardinals have positioned the veteran catcher nearer to the plate than he’s been in years previous. Contreras has additionally labored on catching with one knee on the bottom in hopes of getting his physique and his goal decrease to the bottom.

Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol acknowledged the danger that comes with coaxing catchers into positions nearer to the hitters.

“It’s an enormous danger, and it was talked about within the offseason and a subject in dialogue as a result of there have been extra [catcher’s interference calls], as a result of they’re evaluated on framing,” Marmol mentioned. “The nearer they’re capable of get to the hitter to get that low pitch, it’s undoubtedly a subject of dialog. The danger is excessive, and we simply skilled it.”

Contreras got here into Tuesday twenty fifth within the Majors in catcher framing runs, however twelfth in strike charge (48.7 %) — a much-improved charge over final season. He’s sixth in strike charge on pitches low and away to left-handed hitters at 41.9 %. He additionally ranks twenty fourth in strike charge on strikes calls under the zone (53.8 %).

Catcher’s interference calls have soared this season as groups have coaxed catchers to get nearer to the plate — and nearer to hitters — in an try to get extra low strikes. Coming into Tuesday, there had already been 33 catcher’s interference calls in 1,058 video games, per MLB analysis. Final season, there have been 96 catcher’s interference calls in 4,860 video games. To place that into perspective, catcher’s interference calls have come each 32 video games this season in comparison with each 50.6 video games in 2023.

“There’s at all times a danger being a catcher,” Contreras mentioned candidly. “It may very well be my knee, I might get hit within the head for a concussion and the danger is at all times going to be there. I’m not blaming any a part of my recreation as a result of this occurred.”

Martinez knew instantly that Contreras was seemingly badly injured based mostly on how arduous his bat hit the catcher.

“I flushed him, man,” Martinez mentioned. “Clearly, it was not what I used to be attempting to do. Wanting on the video, he was simply so near me. He was like proper on me. His glove was like on my again leg. Then, he went to succeed in for it. I’ve by no means hit anyone like that. I hope he will get higher.”

Contreras doubled to left discipline within the first inning to assist spark a three-run rally by the Cardinals. He got here into the sport as considered one of simply three Cardinals hitting above league common with an OPS+ of 167. For the season, Contreras has hit .280 with a team-best six dwelling runs, 12 RBIs and 11 doubles.