The St. Louis Cardinals have welcomed back catcher Willson Contreras, who rejoined the team following the completion of a four‑game suspension. Originally slated for six games after an outburst, the suspension was reduced upon appeal.
The suspension stemmed from a heated incident on August 25 during a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contreras struck out in the seventh inning, then engaged in a fiery disagreement with umpire Derek Thomas that included physical contact and verbal profanity.
As the situation intensified, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and hitting coach Brant Brown stepped in to restrain Contreras. In the chaos, he hurled his helmet and bat—accidentally striking Brown—and later tossed bubble gum from the dugout.
After filing an appeal, MLB officials reduced Contreras’s suspension by two games, allowing him to return sooner than initially enforced.
The Cardinals went 2‑2 while Contreras was sidelined, underscoring his importance to the team both offensively and in cohesion.
At 33 years old, Contreras is having a strong 2025 season—batting .254 with 20 home runs and a career‑high 78 RBIs across 130 games. His career numbers remain impressive, with a .257 average, 172 home runs, and 546 RBIs over 1,073 games, and he’s a three‑time All-Star from his time with the Chicago Cubs.
With his return, the Cardinals regain a key veteran presence behind the plate—one who continues to contribute both in production and leadership as they navigate the remainder of the season.
