St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been hit by a pitch many times this season, so much so that now it seems like he’s had enough after his latest brush-up.
In Saturday’s matchup with the San Diego Padres, the benches cleared for the second time in as many days after Manny Machado was plunked in the 9th inning by rookie Andre Granillo.
It was assumed — and later debunked — that this incident came in retaliation for Contreras being plunked on the wrist himself earlier in the game. Contreras has been hit a National League-leading 17 times this season.
Per Dennis Lin and Katie Woo of The Athletic, Contreras acknowledges that he isn’t always hit on purpose but that it’s starting to become a tired act.
“Pretty much fed up,” he said. “I’m not trying to get injured or a broken hand, broken finger. That’s enough. I know they’re not trying to hit me on purpose, but when you get hit on the wrist like I did tonight, it’s really scary.”
“I already have 17 hit-by-pitches, and every pitch seems close to my hand,” he continued. “Last year, (Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove) almost broke my hand (with a hit-by-pitch) in April. Then, in August, I broke my finger by being hit by a pitch.”
The Cardinals haven’t seen the last of the Padres this season. The two teams will see each other four more times in the next seven days, including a three-game series in San Diego beginning later this week.