Willson Contreras Hit with Six-Game Suspension After Wild Outburst
Major League Baseball has slapped St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras with a six-game suspension following an explosive meltdown during Monday night’s clash against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The drama erupted in the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 7-6 home win, when Contreras struck out on three pitches and furiously confronted home plate umpire Derek Thomas. Things spiraled quickly—Contreras hurled his bat, which accidentally struck his own coach, spiked his helmet, and even launched a bucket of bubble gum onto the field.
Both Contreras and manager Oliver Marmol were ejected as hitting coach Brant Brown attempted to restrain the heated slugger. The chaotic scene saw Contreras’ bat hit Brown in the arm, intensifying the spectacle under the Busch Stadium lights.
After the game, Contreras insisted he didn’t deserve the ejection:
“Apparently, he heard something he thought I said. I did not say that,” Contreras explained, claiming he was only disputing the strike zone without disrespect.
But according to crew chief Jordan Baker, both Contreras and Marmol were tossed for using “vulgar stuff” toward the umpire. Baker also noted that Contreras made physical contact with Thomas during the dispute.
In addition to the suspension, Contreras was slapped with an undisclosed fine. The fiery veteran is appealing the ban, which otherwise would have started in Tuesday’s follow-up game against Pittsburgh.
Despite the controversy, Contreras’ season numbers remain solid. At 33 years old, he’s hitting .261 with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs in 121 games this year. The three-time All-Star, who spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, owns a career average of .258 with 171 homers and 540 RBIs.
The suspension couldn’t come at a worse time for the Cardinals, who are still scrapping to stay alive in the National League wildcard race.
Description:
"St. Louis Cardinals star Willson Contreras suspended 6 games after a fiery outburst saw him throw his bat, hit his coach, and clash with umpires."