The Willson Contreras saga continues in St. Louis, as the catcher, who has become a hitter of choice since the beginning of May, will return to his place behind the plate at the start of the week.
This was confirmed by the team’s manager, Oliver Marmol, as the team ends a series of games in Boston against the Red Sox.
Contreras’ return to his natural position coincides with the Milwaukee Brewers coming to Busch Stadium for a three-game series.
Having had a disastrous 2023 season, the Cardinals had made the decision to transfer Contreras to the position of choice hitter, preferring to give playing time to Andrew Knizner.
Recall that Contreras became the reason for the failures of the Cardinals, he who signed a five-year agreement worth $ 87.5 million during the offseason. The one who participated in three All-Star Games while wearing the colors of the Chicago Cubs presented himself in Saint-Louis to put on the crampons of a legend in Yadier Molina, newly retired.
Does not replace Molina who wants and Contreras, an average player defensively, quickly became the epicenter of a host of criticisms towards the team.
The 31-year-old athlete will take the reins against the Brewers by receiving the offerings from starter Jack Flaherty. The last time the two men formed a battery, the result was catastrophic. Indeed, on May 4, against the Los Angeles Angels, Flaherty had allowed ten runs and nine hits to his opponents in just two and a third innings.
It was after this discomfiture that manager Marmol decided to place Contreras in another chair, that of designated hitter. The Cardinals have had a three-game winning streak since then, but they’re still dead last in their division and continue to be an enigma to baseball connoisseurs.
Flaherty is said to have pleaded Contreras’ case with his manager to return to his role as receiver and Oliver Marmol justified his return by saying that the improvements in his game would be sufficient to allow him to do so. TO DO.
Will a series of events that have become distracting suddenly take the form of a rally and change the Cardinals’ 2023 season for the better? Right now, Oliver Marmol’s team-mates have nothing to lose and everything to gain and perhaps Willson Contreras will become the key to a historic turnaround?
