Cardinals' Gamble With Willson Contreras Is Already Paying Off

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jayden Pettus | Last updated Mar 18, 2025 5:30 PM ET

Through 12 spring training games, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been outstanding in his new position.

After spending nine seasons primarily in a catcher role with the Chicago Cubs and the Cardinals, the team announced that Contreras would be taking over at first during the offseason. The position became vacant following now-Yankee Paul Goldschmidt’s exit in free agency.

The former catcher has been terrific in Jupiter for the Cardinals this spring on both sides of the ball, currently carrying a .375/.474/.563 slashline in 32 at-bats. Contreras ranks second among all Cardinals with 12 hits, including three extra base hits and three RBI.

On the defensive side, Contreras has been perfect at the first base position. The 32-year-old has turned in 80 putouts through 67 innings at first and added six assists on his way to a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Prior to this season, Contreras had only seen playing time in 11 regular season games at first base dating back to 2016. In the short time he saw at the position with the Cubs, the former MLB All-Star never committed an error.

Contreras has never manned first base in a Cardinals uniform during the regular season. The last time he played at the first base position was nearly six years ago for the Cubs in 2019.

The old 3-2-3 double play! pic.twitter.com/sR75jxZHKL
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 15, 2025

Outside of the playing time at first, the only other experience Contreras has in an infield position outside of catcher is three innings of work at third base for the Cubs (two in 2017 and one in 2021).

The Cardinals’ first baseman says the move has been a learning experience but that “it has been great,” per MLB.com’s John Denton.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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