Cardinals Get Good News On Willson Contreras

The St. Louis Cardinals got a scare on Opening Day, when their big free agent acquisition Willson Contreras went down in pain after being hit in the knee by a Jordan Hicks 103 mph fastball. If there's one pitcher whose heater you don't want to get drilled with, it's Hicks. 

The good news from the medical reports, however, is that Contreras has emerged from it fine, and might even be ready to go on Sunday.

“I feel good. .. I feel like I have to get bigger shin guards.”

— Willson Contreras, who passed his tests (run, catcher, hit) on Friday. He hopes to return Sunday. May be able to PH today. #stlcards

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) April 1, 2023

Contreras even poked a little fun at himself by saying “I feel good. .. I feel like I have to get bigger shin guards.”

He passed all his recovery tests, according to beat writer Derrick Goold (running, catching/squatting and hitting), and could even be ready to pinch-hit on Saturday if needed. 

#STLCards catcher Willson Contreras said “hopefully tomorrow” when asked when he thinks he can play and catch again. He called it “a big relief” when his MRI came back clean after being hit by a 102.7 mph sinker in the shin guard just above the right knee.

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 1, 2023

The catcher called it "a big relief" when his MRI came back clean. 

Contreras signed a 5-year, $87.5M contract with the Cardinals in the offseason, to fill some pretty big shoes behind the plate after the retirement of Yadier Molina.

Photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports