The Cardinals will get starting catcher Willson Contreras back on Monday after he spent more than six weeks on the injured list with a fractured left arm.
Contreras was activated from the IL ahead of Ƶ’ three-game series vs. the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium. Rookie catcher Nick Raposo was optioned to Class AAA Memphis to clear a 26-man roster spot for Contreras’ return. Reliever Nick Robertson was also activated from the IL and optioned to Memphis.
Contreras suffered a left arm fracture while catching on May 7 against the New York Mets. Mets slugger J.D. Martinez’s bat hit the 32-year-old catcher as Martinez swung at a pitch. Contreras was removed from the game after he was struck and was placed on the IL the next day.
Contreras was batting .280 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in 31 games at the time of the injury. He had a .949 on-base plus slugging percentage in 128 plate appearances and showed improved pitch framing in his second season with the Cardinals.
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Contreras was given a six-to-eight-week timeline for return and had expressed optimism that he could return ahead of schedule.
Before his activation on Monday, Contreras played six rehab games with the Cardinals’ Class AAA club. He went 3 for 21 at the plate and caught 19 innings.