St. Louis Cardinals catcher-first baseman Willson Contreras left Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat to the Colorado Rockies after five innings with a right foot contusion suffered when he was struck by a fourth-inning pitch.
Manager Oliver Marmol said X-rays taken after the game were clean, and Contreras did not speak to reporters afterward. The hit came from Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, an 82.9 mph sinker that sent Contreras tumbling to the ground in frustration before he slammed his bat and broke it on the ground while advancing toward first base.
Contreras initially stayed in the game but was replaced at first by Nolan Gorman to start the sixth inning. He entered the night tied for the NL lead with 18 hit-by-pitches this season, a mark trailing only Randy Arozarena and Ty France.
Offensively, Contreras remains the Cardinals’ leader in home runs and RBIs, pacing the club with 16 HR and 65 RBIs this season.
The injury adds a potential hurdle for St. Louis, but the clean X-rays offer a hopeful sign that he could miss only a short time. The Cardinals will monitor his condition and provide updates as needed. In the meantime, the club will lean on its depth to cover first base and the corner outfield spots as they continue their push this season.
Summary: Contreras exited with a foot contusion after being plunked, but evaluation showed no fracture. The Cardinals’ offense will look to compensate as he undergoes further observation. The team remains focused on a positive path forward despite the setback.