Cardinals Catcher Willson Contreras Sidelined with Broken Forearm
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals suffered a major blow on Tuesday night when catcher Willson Contreras broke his left forearm after being hit by a swing during a game against the New York Mets. Contreras, a key player for the Cardinals, will undergo surgery and is expected to miss at least six weeks of action.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Contreras expressed his disappointment at being sidelined due to the injury. “I’m in a lot of pain right now, but I’m really upset about missing games,” Contreras said. “It’s going to be tough for me to watch from the sidelines, but I’ll do my best to support my teammates and cheer them on.”
The injury occurred in the second inning when Contreras was hit by J.D. Martinez’s swing. Martinez, who felt terrible about the incident, was awarded first base due to catcher’s interference. The Cardinals announced that Contreras had suffered a left forearm fracture and Iván Herrera took over behind the plate.
Contreras believed that Martinez’s late swing contributed to the unfortunate timing of the incident. “I think if he had seen the pitch better, he would have tried to hit it a little more upfront and wouldn’t have hit me,” Contreras explained. “I’m not blaming him. He’s just doing his job. These things happen in baseball.”
Teammates and coaches alike expressed their support for Contreras, with Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas calling him the team’s “beating heart” behind the plate. Manager Oliver Marmol praised Contreras for his contributions to the team both on and off the field. “He’s an extreme competitor and brings so much to the club performance-wise,” Marmol said. “It’s tough to see him go down, but we’ll support him through his recovery.”
Contreras, who doubled and scored a run earlier in the game, has been a key player for the Cardinals this season, hitting .280 with six home runs and 12 RBIs. The 31-year-old is in the second year of a lucrative five-year, $87.5 million contract with the team.
As the Cardinals adjust to playing without Contreras, they will look to other players to step up and fill the void left by the injured catcher. Despite the setback, the team remains focused on continuing their successful season and competing at the highest level.
The Cardinals will now have to navigate a challenging stretch of games without Contreras, but the team is confident in their ability to overcome adversity and continue their pursuit of a playoff spot. Fans will be eagerly awaiting Contreras’ return to the lineup and hoping for a speedy recovery for the talented catcher.