$Mets' J.D. Martinez gives graphic description after accidentally fracturing Cardinals' catcher's arm$

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' J.D. Martinez gives graphic description after accidentally fracturing Cardinals' catcher's arm

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/8/24

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to avoid their first back-to-back last-place finishes since the 1907 and 1908 seasons, but they're not off to a very good start.

After going 71-91 to finish in the NL Central basement in 2023, the Cardinals are currently last in the division at 15-21, having lost four in a row.

One of the team's best hitters is now facing a six-to-eight-week absence , as three-time All-Star catcher Willson Contreras suffered a fractured forearm on Tuesday night against the New York Mets.

The injury occurred in the top of the second inning when Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez accidentally hit the backstop's left arm on a swing.

J.D. Martinez: "You’re expecting to hit a ball and you hit an arm. And you’re like, what was that? I hit meat. I felt I hit meat. I didn’t hit just a glove where you point back at the catcher. It was solid. Dude, I hit him good. When I got to first, I felt terrible." https://t.co/tGFAvS6Wn8
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 8, 2024

To make matters worse, Contreras was called for catcher's interference on the play, and Martinez was awarded first base.

There's been a steady increase in catcher interference calls across MLB in recent years, including a record 96 in 2023.

Catcher's interference calls per MLB season:

23 25 23 33 41 43 41 61 62 74 96 33 pic.twitter.com/5PqGzyUWN3
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 8, 2024

Contreras leads the Cardinals in runs scored (20), doubles (11), home runs (six), walks (18), on-base percentage (.398), slugging percentage (.551) and OPS (.950).

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