This is quite the meltdown.

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras lost his cool Monday night after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Following an exchange with home plate umpire Derek Thomas, he threw a tantrum that’s certain to draw the attention of MLB.

The incident took place in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Cardinals held a 6-5 lead with a runner on first base and Contreras at the plate with one out. 

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Contreras throws bat, hits Cardinals coach in face

Thomas correctly called strike three on an 0-2 fastball that Yohan Ramírez threw over the middle of the plate at Contreras’ knees. At first, Contreras appeared to accept his fate as he walked immediately toward the dugout after watching the ball cross home plate. 

But he looked back at Thomas as he walked away, and chaos ensued. Broadcast cameras didn’t catch what immediately happened next. But things had escalated by the time they focused back on Contreras.

Contreras was heated as he spoke with Thomas, who’d walked toward the dugout to engage with him. Contreras then got in Thomas’ face and started yelling before being restrained by Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.

By this time, Contreras had been ejected. Bench coach Daniel Descalso put his arms around Contreras and pulled him toward the dugout as Contreras continued to protest, bat still in hand. Before Contreras made it to the dugout, he threw his bat back toward the scrum of people. It hit another Cardinals staffer in the face.

When Contreras finally made it to the dugout, he found a bucket of candy and threw it on the the field. 

What set Contreras off?

Here are the pitches that preceded his tirade. Contreras watched two correctly called strikes and swung at another that was outside. 

It wasn’t immediately clear what set Contreras off. But it shouldn’t have been those strike calls. Not that there’s ever an excuse to wildly throw a bat toward a group of people.

Contreras: ‘He threw me out for nothing’

Contreras spent several minutes meeting with local reporters after the game, which the Cardinals won 7-6, and insisted that he wasn’t sure why he was thrown out of the game. 

“I was surprised because he threw me out for nothing.” Contreras said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The issue, he claims, wasn’t over the third strike call. Contreras admitted that the call was correct, and that he “struck out on a good pitch.”

But the issue, he said, was over something that the umpire thought he said. Contreras did not elaborate on what that was, but insisted that he wasn’t complaining about that specific call.

“I’m still wondering to be honest,” Contreras said. “I don’t think he had reason to throw me out. I didn’t argue any pitch in my last at bat. The only thing I said was, ‘Call the pitch on both sides because you’re missing for us.’ 

“I turned around, the next thing I hear they threw me out. He had no reason for it.”

As for the bat throw that hit his coach, Contreras said he immediately apologized.

“I apologized to him,” he said. “I wasn’t looking back, I just threw my bat back … that was not on purpose.”

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is already in the midst of a historic 2025 season. On Monday, he added yet another milestone to his already impressive list of accomplishments this year.

With a first-inning shot in their 9-6 win over the San Diego Padres Monday on night, Raleigh became the first major leaguer this season to club 50 home runs. 

Padres starter JP Sears threw a 3-2 fastball over the lower inside corner of the plate. Raleigh turned on it and launched the ball 419 feet into the upper deck of the left-field stands at T-Mobile Park.

The solo shot gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead. 

Raleigh reaching the milestone before any other player this season shouldn’t come as a major surprise. The 28-year-old has been on a torrid power pace all season. He had some stiff competition from New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge earlier in the year, but an elbow injury sidelined Judge for a few days near the end of July, allowing Raleigh to widen his home-run lead. 

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At 40 home runs, Judge still remains on the periphery of the home-run race. The same can be said of Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who also has 40 home runs. Entering play Monday, Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani share second place, with each players sitting on 45 home runs.

While any of those players can go on a power binge and challenge Raleigh, his chances of leading the league in home runs feels high. Though Raleigh has hit just .216 in 34 games following the All-Star break, he’s maintained a strong .485 slugging percentage over that period thanks to 12 home runs. 

With roughly a month left in the regular season, Barry Bonds’ single-season record of 73 home runs appears safe for now. Following Monday’s home run, Raleigh sits 23 away from tying Bonds’ record. Though Raleigh has put up some exceptional power numbers in 2025, the most home runs he’s managed in a single month is 12. 

The single-season record may be out of reach, but Raleigh still has plenty of time to secure some other accolades. The American League MVP race is expected to come down to Raleigh and Judge. While Judge has been the better overall hitter, Raleigh’s power production and phenomenal defense could result in him winning the award. The two are essentially in a dead heat for the award according to FanGraphs’ version of WAR, so the last month of the year could decide the award. 

Thanks to Raleigh’s excellence, the Mariners are battling it out for a wild-card spot in the AL. While crossing milestones and winning individual awards is nice, securing a postseason spot and leading the M’s to their first-ever championship would be the perfect way for Raleigh to cap a legendary season.

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was already in the midst of a transcendent season, but now it’s historic. With a pair of early home runs in Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics, Raleigh tied, and then broke the major-league record for most home runs hit in a single season by a catcher.

In the first inning, Raleigh clubbed his 48th home run of the season with a two-run blast. And then, one inning later, he hit No. 49 on the season, pushing him ahead of a record set by Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez in 2021. Perez clubbed 48 home runs that season, passing Johnny Bench to set a new record at the position. Perez’s grasp on that record lasted just four seasons before Raleigh broke it on Sunday.

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Raleigh’s first homer of the game gave the Mariners an early 2-0 lead, with Raleigh sending the ball 453 feet to send him and Randy Arozarena home.

Then, in the second inning, he did it again: Raleigh hit another two-run homer deep left center, sending him and Arozarena home to give Seattle a 5-1 lead.

After rounding the bases again, the catcher was greeted with a standing ovation from the fans and his team. Raleigh went into the dugout, before coming back out again to tip his helmet to the crowd.

Raleigh’s pursuit of history felt inevitable after his first half. Raleigh hit an astonishing 38 home runs prior to the All-Star break, topping his previous career high. Over his career, the switch-hitting Raleigh has displayed elite power at the plate, but he’s taken that excellence to another level this season. 

His performance resulted in Raleigh making his first-ever All-Star Game, where he went on to participate in, and w1n, the 2025 Home Run Derby.

He now stands alone on the single-season list, which is littered with some of the best catchers of all-time. Below are the top five single season home run totals from catchers.

1. Cal Raleigh, 2025 Seattle Mariners: 49
2. Salvador Perez, 2021 Kansas City Royals: 48
3. Johnny Bench, 1970 Cincinnati Reds: 45
4. Javy Lopez, 2003 Atlanta Braves: 43
5-tie. Todd Hundley, 1996 New York Mets: 41
5-tie. Roy Campanella, 1953 Los Angeles Dodgers: 41

Of that group, Lopez actually hit the most home runs while playing catcher. He hit 42 of his 43 home runs in 2003 while starting behind the plate. Raleigh could break that record as well: With his two home runs Sunday, Raleigh now has hit 40 home runs as a catcher in 2025. He sits just two homers off Lopez’s record.

Both Raleigh and Perez were aided by their ability to serve as their team’s designated hitters on days when they aren’t behind the plate. That allowed both players to rack up a high number of plate appearances at a position that typically receives plenty of days off. But since Raleigh and Perez are true offensive difference-makers, their teams work to ensure their bats are in the lineup each day. It’s a credit to both Perez and Raleigh that they’ve been able to hold up and perform well under such an extreme workload.

While Perez’s record-setting 2021 season was impressive, Raleigh’s 2025 has a chance to be much, much better. Perez finished the 2021 season with a 2.7 fWAR, mostly driven by his offensive production. The advanced metrics have never been a fan of Perez’s defense, which pushed his total WAR down.

That’s not the case with Raleigh. Widely considered one of the best defenders in baseball, Raleigh already reached 7 fWAR in mid-August. If he can continue to finish strong, Raleigh could wind up turning in one of the best seasons ever by a catcher.

That could earn him some hardware at the end of the season. During his excellent 2021, Perez managed a seventh-place finish in the MVP voting. Raleigh appears destined to finish no lower than second in the American League voting in 2025, with a strong chance to win it depending on how he — and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge — close out the year. 

What Syracuse coach Fran Brown said during his press conference on Monday, previewing his team’s game against Tennessee on Saturday (Noon Eastern Time, ABC) in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:

“… We get the opportunity to play against one of the bluebloods of college football. I’ve looked up to this team for a long time. I remember when coach Phillip Fulmer was coaching there. I got a cousin named Rashad Baker who got a chance to play there. He was a four-year starter. Being able to see Tennessee for a long time and I think Coach (Josh) Heupel has stepped in and done an amazing job. Just from when he started there, his coaching career, his playing career as a football player, and then now as a coach. It’s always second to none, right? He does an amazing job. Last year was in the college playoffs already. Got a chance to compete against him when I was at Georgia two times. Actually, the hardest week was being able to prepare for them. He’s got a lot of good players. He’s an intelligent coach.

“Coach Joey Halzle there, offensive coordinator, does a really good job. They got a new guy at the helm, (Joey) Aguilar, who I think is really good. I remember him watching App State. I went to Western Carolina, that’s a rival, always getting to see what App does, I’m always up to watching them. I thought he did a real good job at that school. Just thought he was a really good quarterback, good player, excited for what he does. He’s a Cali kid that loves to sling the ball, that’s what he grew up doing. Happy for him.

“Offensively, also the running backs. I think their running backs are really good. DeSean (Bishop), Star (Thomas) and Peyton Lewis. Peyton being a really good player, DeSean is really good and then Star, his name speaks for itself, right? Those running backs are really good. I think their tight ends are extremely well. I know just watching them and doing things all the time was 87 (Miles Kitselman) and … couple different guys they got. I like their receivers, 17, (Chris) Brazzell. I know Mike Matthews from the recruiting trail being at Georgia. Got the chance to recruit him a little bit. He’s a really good football player. And then those freshmen they brung in, I just literally wrote it down from watching and going back and seeing what they do. But Travis Smith, Radarious (Jackson), (Joakim) Dodson, those guys can really play ball. And let’s not forget about 14, Braylon Staley, who’s a really good football player, also.

“And then on the defensive side of the ball, Tim Banks is a good coach. I got to know him a little bit. We’re not best of friends, but I know who he is. I respect him, I respect the work that he’s done. I remember meeting him from Penn State and things of that nature. He’s done a real good job of coaching.

“That linebacker, seven, Arion (Carter), he’s a beast. He just can play football. He’s really good. Does a really good job. The DBs. Of course, they’ve got one of the best corners in the country in No. 3 (Jermod McCoy). Just watching him play. It’s tough with him, I hear they don’t know if he’ll play or if he does play. Shit, I would play him if I was them. He’s good as heck. He can play football. I know Rickey (Gibson III), I recruited him a little bit when I was at Georgia. He was a good football player. I’ll be able to see Boo Carter. I’ll be excited to see him. I thought he was a good kid in being able to recruit him. I think he might be playing both ways, I’m not really sure what he’s doing, I think he’s the STAR. But he does a good job at the nickel position.

“Their (defensive) line, 19 (Joshua Josephs) did a hell of a job last year with 22 (linebacker Jeremiah Telander). I think they’re real deep on the D-line. They got a lot of guys when you go and watch them and you can see what they do. And then from a special teams perspective, EvanCrabtree, I know he was on the staff. They had a lot of things that they did well last year. They really try to get going in the return game on PBR. We’re expecting them to come try to block some punts, but in the same sense, we think they’ll also try to set some returns up because I think they can be dangerous there with the speed they have on their football team. But we’re thankful for the opportunity we get to go play against these guys.”

Similarities in preparing for Tennessee now, compared to his time at Georgia

“I was the corners coach there. So that was a big difference. I’m the head coach now. I think we’re just different teams. We run different defenses, it’s not the same. Comparing us to them, it’s a little bit different. I don’t know, it’s just different. For me there, I was watching every little piece, I was watching a lot of different things from a defensive backs perspective cause I was only looking at it as the cornerbacks coach. Now I’m the head football coach, so I watch the complete games all the time. I’m watching the full games and going through it a little bit different in that nature of it. I think it’s a huge difference in the preparation. And you asked it from a defensive perspective, well, we run two different schemes. We’re not who they are. Their guys are a little bit different up front. They got those big two-gappers and things of that nature.”

Any similarities facing Tennessee after facing the Vols as an assistant coach at Georgia

“They’re going to go fast. Yeah, they’re going to go fast. They’re going to make sure they go fast. Tennessee runs what they run. They’re not worrying about what you’re in. You better worry about what they’re in. When you don’t get home, when you’re not ready, it’s all about what they run.”

What type of statement it would be for Syracuse to beat Tennessee

“I’m just worrying about one day at a time, really. For me, I’m not even really thinking about Saturday right now, honestly. I’m just trying to focus on the day. I’m trying to make sure we’ll be ready for practice today. We’ll get the chance to walk a little bit. We’re going to be off, so the guys get the chance to make sure they take care of their bodies and we’re chilling and we’re not doing nothing today like that. For me, I’m just focused on the day and making sure we prep the right way as a coaching staff. Make sure everybody is ready to go so we’re ready to play.”

How this game served as motivation during Syracuse fall camp

“I’m just motivated that I wake up every day. I’m not sure. Some of the questions that ya’ll are telling me, they’re like setup questions. I’m not trying to give anyone else ammo to be happy about us playing them or us happy to play — we’re happy to play football. Ya’ll could’ve put rowing on the schedule and we’re going to make sure that we practice the same way and I’m going to be the same person all the time. I’m motivated that Mr. Wildhack picked me to be the head football coach here and I get to represent the ‘S’. I get to go out and speak for Syracuse and who they are and what the tradition of this program has been. Just for all the people that were here before us. We stand on the shoulders of the people before. Without all the people that were already here, all the hard work they put in, for me, having the opportunity to have Keith Bullock all summer, Dwight Freeney here this summer, being able to call Marvin Harrison and talk to him about things. That’s why I’m motivated to make sure we play well. That’s why I’m motivated to make sure that we do things the right way. With all due respect to every team, I’m self-motivated. There’s a lot of individual goals in my life I have for myself. There’s a lot of team goals that we all have. Team-wise, we want to win a national championship. That’s what motivates us first and foremost. As long as we do everything as a team and we stay consistently focused on dart and we keep our core values before our personal goals, we’re going to be straight.”

Saying he doesn’t feel motivated by Tennessee or opponents Syracuse plays against

“I didn’t say that. So, watch how she said that and don’t try to mark that and have them all ‘Fran said he ain’t motivated by ya’ll.’ I said I am self-motivated and I said that Tennessee is one of the better programs to be in college football. But for me and the way I grow, I don’t allow other stuff to get me to go. I wanted to get a college degree so I could be successful and make money and do things of that nature. When it comes to this school, they’re a really good program. I’m just saying, I’m trying to focus on the day because they’re entirely too good for us to try to focus and worry on playing them all week long. We just focus on playing them, playing them, and not focused on all the little intricate details that we need to do every day, we’re not going to give ourselves a chance. So, to give us a chance to be able to compete against them, we got to be where our feet are, so that way on Saturday, we got an opportunity to at least be able to keep that game close. Cause, man, they be putting 50, 60 up on people in the beginning of the year. I don’t want to be the team that gives up 50 or 60.”

Tennessee having the crowd advantage with the game in Atlanta

“Everybody is going to have on orange. Orange is orange. We just got to not see the burnt orange as much. Orange is orange. My guys are just going to be happy to play in a packed stadium. We’re ready to go. I’m excited to go there and play football. I’m hoping that the Falcons got somebody there watching the game and they have the opportunity to see some of our players just as well as their players. Just gives our kids a great opportunity to go there and play. I think I coached like three games there already, three different games in that stadium, so this will be a good deal for us to get a chance to go there and do this.”

The Syracuse offensive line facing Tennessee’s defensive line

“I’m not sure. We’re going to get to tell this weekend. I’ll get to tell you Saturday how we’re going to be able to match that. They’re gonna come and compete. People averaged 17 points per game on them last year, I think that was eighth in the country. They did an amazing job. They only gave up 298 yards of total offense. On offense, they had 400-something yards, they rushed for 225 a game or 228. Passed for 221. We got our hands full. We’re ready to compete, though.”