JUPITER, Fla. — New Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras hasn't played a regular-season game yet, but he has already expressed appreciation for “The Cardinals Way."
Contreras, the successor to franchise icon Yadier Molina at catcher, started behind the plate and caught veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener at Roger Dean Stadium.
He went 0-for-2 in the batter's box despite having blasted a ball with an exit velocity of 104 miles per hour to center field in his first at-bat.
Contreras received a round of applause during the starting lineup introductions, but he was in the bullpen catching Wainwright’s warmup session.