When is Willson Contreras Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update

One of the steadiest backstops you will find, the Cardinals' Willson Contreras suffered one of the uglier injuries we have seen in recent memory in a contest against the Mets on May 7.

Contreras was caught reaching too far forward in receiving a pitch and was struck in the forearm on a swing by Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez, suffering a fractured left forearm in the process. It was an ugly scene and a brutal circumstance for the player, the team, and fantasy managers alike.

Of course, the veteran catcher is going to miss significant time, but just how much? Let's dive in and check on Contreras' status and what fantasy managers can expect upon his return.

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Willson Contreras Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

The Athletic's Kate Woo has relayed that Contreras will miss about 10 weeks of action following surgery on his fractured left forearm, according to Cardinals skipper Oliver Marmol. Woo adds that the All-Star break is a potential target for the 32-year-old's return to action.

Willson Contreras underwent a successful surgery on Wednesday. A return by the All-Star break remains the goal. #STLCards

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) May 9, 2024

All told, this isn't exactly the worst news. A fracture was always going to sideline Contreras long-term but getting struck on the forearm on a swing from a big league hitter could have been a lot worse. The key moving forward is how his arm (and bat) can hold up upon his return.

Willson Conteras Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Contreras' injury interrupted what had been a white-hot start to the plate for a struggling Cardinals offense. The backstop has been the team's best hitter by a country mile, hitting .280 with six homers, a 14.1% BB%, .949 OPS, .411 wOBA, and a 170 wRC+ across 128 trips to the plate. He has added a pair of stolen bases for good measure.

His Statcast sheet is a sea of red while he continues to provide excellent defense behind the plate. Aside from his value to fantasy managers, Contreras' 1.8 fWAR is tied for second among all big league catchers behind his brother, William.

Willson Contreras SMOKED this one 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/ZngD96uKQp

— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2024

Considering his bloated .364 BABIP, it's easy to see some regression upon his return. At the same time, his .389 xwOBA not only isn't far below his .411 wOBA, but it ranks in the league's 92nd percentile.

His ugly-looking injury is just brutal from every possible standpoint. It halted a massive start to his season, and it's unclear how he will respond to his operation and how strong that left arm can be when he returns to game action. Nonetheless, he remains a full-blown injury stash, even if he can't return until after the All-Star break in July.

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