ST. LOUIS — JD Martinez didn’t need to see his catcher’s reaction to know something was wrong.
Swinging a pitch in the second inning on Tuesday, the Mets DH connected with Willson Contreras’ left arm. Contreras crouched down in pain before leaving the game.
The Cardinals announced that Contreras had a broken arm.
Martinez was given first base for interfering with the catcher’s play.
“I was expecting to hit the ball and it hit me in the arm and I’m like, ‘What the hell?'” Martinez said after the Mets’ 7-5 win at Busch Stadium. “He hit the flesh. He didn’t hit the glove hard enough to point it at the catcher. It was just solid. I hit him well. I felt terrible when I got to first base.”
Martinez has been standing deep in the batter’s box, with interference plays increasing as the catcher approaches the plate for framing, but Martinez said he expected the connection with Contreras to be “the last thing.” .
Kodai Chiga plans to pitch in the bullpen before deciding on his next step.
The right-handed pitcher could be assigned to a minor league rehab assignment later this week after completing his third session facing batters over the weekend. However, manager Carlos Mendoza says Chiga prefers to pitch out of the bullpen first.
“Physically I’m in good shape,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s just mechanics that he wants to throw out the bullpen to work on some of the things he’s been working on. But as far as how he’s feeling, it’s all good news.”
Coach Mendoza said Chiga may play against batters after a bullpen session on Wednesday or Thursday rather than a rehab start.
Chiga, who was diagnosed with shoulder tightness early in spring training, won’t return to the Mets until at least early June.
Tyler Megill pitched four shutout innings with no hits and no runs, seven strikeouts and one walk in his third rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.
Mendoza said the right-hander is scheduled to pitch again on Sunday at Syracuse as a rehab start.
Drew Smith is scheduled to pitch an inning at Syracuse on Wednesday.
This will be the right-hander’s first rehabilitation appearance since entering the IL on April 27th due to right shoulder pain.
