The St. Louis Cardinals have activated Willson Contreras from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Contreras played in six rehab games with Triple-A Memphis, catching three games and serving as the designated hitter in three others. Contreras was supposed to be out until the All-Star break when he fractured his left forearm in early May. However, he will beat that timetable in just a few weeks.
Willson Contreras Will Be Back with the Cardinals
The Cardinals have the best record in the National League since May 12 at 24-13. When Contreras went down St. Louis was in last place at 15-20. At the time of the injury, he was the team’s most consistent hitter with a robust .280/.398/.551 line. He’s also in the top 13 percentile of the league in caught stealing above average at +2.
Roster News: C Willson Contreras has been activated from the 10-day IL.
C Nick Raposo has been optioned to Memphis (AAA).
RHP Nick Robertston has been activated from the 15-day IL and optioned to Memphis. pic.twitter.com/kKY9jLmLGJ
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 24, 2024
“I’ve been able to talk to Willson, he’s feeling good,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on KMOX on Sunday. “His timing is feeling good, he’s getting his legs under him. Obviously, we’re all kind of focused on how that forearm feels, but we also want to make sure he’s got his legs in a row.”
The timing for his return is helpful for the Cardinals as well. Primary backup Ivan Herrera went on the IL last week. Fellow rookie Pedro Pages has been filling in nicely at catcher, including acting as a battery mate for Sonny Gray‘s seven perfect innings on Sunday’s win over the San Francisco Giants.
Contreras’ return helps the Cardinals lineup. Not only will he slate back into the heart of the order, but it also deepens the bench of a banged-up team. Both third baseman Nolan Arenado and outfielder Michael Siani missed Sunday’s game with injuries. He’ll join a Cardinals lineup featuring hot bats like that of Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman.
“I think you start to get healthy and continue to play the style of ball that we’re playing, and it can be a nice little run,” Marmol said after Sunday’s win.
Main Photo: © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
