The Cardinals season took a brutal turn Tuesday when a J.D. Martinez swing crushed catcher Willson Contreras left forearm, and the three-time All-Star exited with what the team eventually announced as a left arm fracture. With one out in the second inning, Miles Mikolas threw a slider that induced a swing from the Mets designated hitter. But Contreras appeared to be close enough to the plate for Martinez to make contact with his arm. This is the most pain Ive been through, for sure, Contreras told reporters postgame. I knew right away it was a bad situation, and then when I got to sit down in the dirt, it was numb. I knew it wasnt right. Martinez ended up advancing to first base on catchers interference. Explore More And Contreras was left in obvious pain with the catcher, Mikolas and manager Oliver Marmol were left answering questions about the risk of the position, especially if players are inching closer to the batter to frame low pitches. J.D. Martinezs swing connected with Wilson Contreras. Bally Sports Midwest It Travis Shaw Jersey s a huge risk, Marmol told reporters after the Cardinals , and its been talked about. Even during the offseason, it was a topic of discu sion because there was an increase in them. The more catchers are evaluated on framing, the closer theyre getting to the hitter in order to get that low pitch. So its definitely a topic of conversation. The risk is high. We just experienced it. He rolled around behind the plate for a few moments and moved around screaming in pain before a trainer arrived and helped Contreras to the ground near the Cardinals dugout. Earlier in the game, Contreras, who signed with the Cardinals following the 2022 campaign after seven MLB seasons with the Cubs, doubled before later scoring in St. Louis three-run first inning against Jose Butto. Wilson Contreras exited after getting hit with a swing during the second inning. Getty Images Wilson Contreras was in obvious pain after getting hit with a swing during the second inning of Tuesdays game. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports He entered Tuesday night hitting .274 with a .931 OPS. Contreras made All-Star appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2022, and was a member of the Cubs team that snapped the franchises 108-year World Series drought in 2016. Eight years later, he was again slated to serve a pivotal role on a Cardinals team aiming for their second NL Central title acro s the past three seasons. St. Louis kept its three-run lead intact until the fifth inning Tuesday, when the Mets erupted for six runs in the frame three cro sing the plate via a Brandon Nimmo homer, two scoring on Pete Alonsos double and another scoring on Martinezs RBI single. Kevin Pillar Jersey