August 27, 2025

Unlucky bat toss costs MLB slugger six-game suspension

Major League Baseball disciplined Contreras, the St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman, on Aug. 26, one day after he flew into a rage after getting ejected and chucked the bat toward the field, striking hitting coach Brant Brown in the arm.

Contreras, 33, is appealing the suspension and was in the lineup for their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Contreras, 33, was upset at home plate umpire Derek Thomas’s called strike call in the seventh inning of their game against Pittsburgh and was ejected after apparently saying something while walking back to the dugout.

Contreras is batting .261 with 29 homers and an .802 OPS this season for the Cardinals.

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