St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been suspended six games by Major League Baseball after his ejection and subsequent meltdown during Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Contreras was ejected by home-plate umpire Derek Thomas for what appeared to be arguing balls and strikes. He then attempted to charge toward Thomas, was restrained and threw his bat in the direction of the umpires, which made contact with hitting coach Brant Brown.
Manager Oli Marmol was also ejected.
After the ejections, Katie Woo of The Athletic noted that “Various items were thrown onto the field once Descalso had Contreras in the dugout, including a piece of protection equipment and a bucket of Hi-Chew candy, with multiple members of the Cardinals staff, including coach Stubby Clapp and Alec Burleson, scrambling to pick them up.”
Contreras denied arguing balls and strikes while speaking to reporters after the game.
“I don’t think he had any reason to throw me out,” he said. “I didn’t argue any pitch in any at-bat. The only thing I said was, ‘Call the pitches for both sides, because you’re missing for us.’ I turned around, he threw me out, he had no reason for it. Apparently he heard something that I said, but I didn’t say that.”
Crew chief Jordan Baker said during the pool report that Contreras and Marmol were each rung up for “saying vulgar stuff to the plate (umpire), Derek Thomas.”
Baker also said Contreras made contact with Thomas. Contreras said he did not intend to make contact, and also said he apologized to Brown for hitting him with his bat.
“I wasn’t looking back, I just threw the bat back,” he told reporters. “That was not on purpose.”
Contreras, 33, is hitting .261 this season with 19 homers, 72 RBI, 63 runs and a .802 OPS. The Cardinals ultimately beat the Pirates, 7-6, moving to 65-67 on the season after Alec Burleson’s walk-off homer.
