ST. LOUIS — One month into a frustrating season, the St. Louis Cardinals received their most brutal news yet.
Starting catcher Willson Contreras suffered a fractured left arm after being struck squarely by the swing of New York Mets’ J.D. Martinez in the top of the second inning on Tuesday night. Contreras immediately hollered and crumpled in pain as manager Oli Marmol and head trainer Adam Olsen sprinted out of the home dugout.
Contreras fell to the ground and clutched his left arm near the dugout, clearly in both physical pain and emotional distress. He remained there for multiple minutes before leaving the game.
Willson Contreras will leave this game after taking a J.D. Martinez swing to his left arm. pic.twitter.com/mJfiqOBf4t
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 8, 2024
Martinez was awarded first base on a catcher’s interference call. Reserve catcher Iván Herrera took over duties behind the plate. The Cardinals do not have a third catcher on their roster.
Contreras, who doubled and scored a run during the Cardinals’ three-run first inning, has been the team’s most productive hitter. The Cardinals entered play with one of the worst team offenses in the National League, with Contreras an exception. He led the team in homers (six) and OPS (.949) and was arguably the team’s most valuable positional player this season.
(Photo of Willson Contreras: Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
