St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras suffered a forearm fracture during Tuesday's game against the New York Mets, leaving the team with a major void behind the plate and at the heart of their offense. Contreras is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, a significant blow to a Cardinals team already struggling to score runs.
The loss of Contreras is a major setback for the Cardinals, who have relied heavily on his offensive production and leadership. In 32 games this season, Contreras has batted .266 with 4 home runs and 18 RBIs. He has also been a key part of the Cardinals' pitching staff, earning praise for his game-calling and ability to get the best out of his pitchers.
Without Contreras, the Cardinals will likely turn to Andrew Knizner as their primary catcher. Knizner, 28, has played in 30 games this season, batting .242 with 7 RBIs. He is a solid defensive catcher but does not provide the same offensive punch as Contreras.
The Cardinals' offense has been anemic all season, averaging just 3.88 runs per game, which ranks 28th in the Majors. The team has scored 3 or fewer runs in 16 of its 32 games.
The loss of Contreras further exacerbates the Cardinals' offensive woes. He is one of the team's best hitters and has been a key part of the lineup, batting cleanup behind Paul Goldschmidt.
The Cardinals will need to find a way to replace Contreras' production in order to turn around their season. The team is currently 13-19 and in last place in the NL Central.
The Cardinals have a few options to fill Contreras' void. They could promote top prospect Ivan Herrera from Triple-A Memphis. Herrera, 22, is considered a top-100 prospect by MLB Pipeline and has been hitting well in Triple-A this season.
Another option would be to sign a free agent catcher. There are a few veteran catchers available, including Robinson Chirinos, Kurt Suzuki, and Tucker Barnhart.
However, none of these options would fully replace Contreras' production. He is a unique player who provides both offensive and defensive value.
The Cardinals will have to hope that Contreras can return to the lineup sooner than expected. In the meantime, the team will need to find a way to replace his production and turn around their season.
