The bond between brothers Willson and Williams Contreras, a pair of big league catchers that catch for division rivals, can be summed up fairly simply by the Cardinals starting backstop.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really healthy, professional rivalry,鈥 Willson, the older of the two brothers, said Friday before the Cardinals opened a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. 鈥淗e鈥檚 trying to win for his team. I鈥檓 trying to win for the Cardinals. We don鈥檛 trade any thoughts before games. We just go out there and compete.鈥
That doesn鈥檛 mean there can鈥檛 be some compliments.
鈥淗e is the best,鈥 Willson said of William, the Brewers鈥 Silver Slugger-winning catcher who entered the series opener with a .358 average, four home runs, and 17 RBIs in 17 games. 鈥淗e has a Silver Slugger (award). I don鈥檛 have one. I think he has more votes for the Gold Glove than I have in my whole career. I think the more experience he gets, the better he鈥檚 going to be.鈥
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Or some help, just as there was this past winter.
The two brothers regularly work with each other over the offseason and continued to do so in the lead-up to the 2024 season. Transforming the way Willson, 31, receives and frames pitches was a focal point in his work with William, 26, who ended 2023 with a plus-seven in catcher framing runs and 48% in strike rate, per Statcast. The Milwaukee backstop鈥檚 framing runs were tied for fifth in the majors among qualified catchers.
With the help of his younger brother, Willson came into spring training with an approach behind the plate in which he has one knee down and with a setup to how he sets his glove and adjusts his body positioning.
Through nine games behind the plate (or 77 innings), Willson ranks in the 53rd percentile in framing and has a 47.5% strike rate, per Statcast. A season ago, the Cardinals鈥 starting catcher was in the 13th percentile in framing and had a 44.3% strike rate that had him ranked 44th among qualified MLB catchers while his minus-5 catcher framing runs was 52nd.
鈥淎 lot,鈥 Willson, who had been hampered by a bruised left hand in recent weeks, said pregame Friday of how much the work with his brother has been on display. 鈥淚 know that I didn鈥檛 catch in a week because of my hand and now I still don鈥檛 feel 100% about my hand, but I鈥檓 doing my best behind the plate. I think I had a pretty good two games in Oakland, which is good for me because we had two tough umpires behind the plate.鈥
Ahead of Friday鈥檚 series opener at Busch Stadium between the Brewers and the Cardinals, the brothers could be seen on the field during batting practice sharing a hug and chatting briefly before one another returned to resume pregame work with their respective teams. The Friday night matchup marked the Contreras brothers鈥 first meeting of 2024 and a potential chance for Willson to showcase his improvements to the person who helped him get there.
鈥淚鈥檓 still doing my best to become one of the best framers in the game,鈥 Willson said. 鈥淚 know there鈥檚 always room to improve. I鈥檓 looking forward just to keep doing my stuff and whoever wants to say something nice to me about it, I鈥檓 more than welcomed (to that) because I know that I鈥檝e heard a lot over the years about my framing that it鈥檚 not good, but this year is a lot different.鈥
Injury updates
Center fielder/utilityman Tommy Edman (right wrist) took swings as a left-handed hitter on Friday after taking swings from the right side on Thursday. Both of the swinging sessions were off a hitting tee.
Infielder Matt Carpenter was scheduled to take batting practice on the field for the first time since being shelved with an oblique strain in early April. Carpenter is set to be reevaluated on Saturday to see how he responds to the swings.
Outfielder Dylan Carlson (sprained shoulder) continued to take swings on Friday. The switch-hitting outfielder has been able to hit off a hitting tee, front toss, and inside in the batting cage while also going through defensive work. His batting cage work came as a lefty. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Carlson鈥檚 throwing progression has been 鈥渢he easiest thing鈥 in his rehab.
Right-hander Riley O鈥橞rien (flexor tendon) visited team doctors on Friday to get cleared to begin his throwing progression. O鈥橞rien pitched on opening day and has been on the IL since March 31 鈥 a move retroactive to March 29.
Right-hander Keynan Middleton (forearm strain) had a 鈥渞ecovery day鈥 on Friday as he goes through a throwing program during which he is scheduled to throw two consecutive days and received an off-day on the third day. He has played catch from up to 110 feet and will continue his program as planned on Saturday.
Left-hander Drew Rom (biceps tendinitis) has continued going through plyometric exercises, but 鈥渉asn鈥檛 made the progress that we have hoped for,鈥 Marmol said. Rom was placed on the IL near the end of spring training and last pitched in a game on March 15.
Extra Bases
Before Friday鈥檚 game, the Cardinals honored late Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog with a moment of silence and a tribute video that featured highlights of the former Cardinals skipper. A wreath adorned with Herzog鈥檚 retired 鈥24鈥 was placed in center field in front of the hitter鈥檚 eye for the pregame ceremonies Herzog died at the age of 92 from an illness. 鈥 Rookie outfielder Victor Scott II was presented with his 2023 minor league Gold Glove award on the field before the start of Friday鈥檚 game. 鈥 The Cardinals鈥 Nike City Connect uniforms are set to be unveiled on May 20 and will make their in-game debut on May 25 at home against the Chicago Cubs.