The St. Louis Cardinals are clearly in a rebuilding phase, and their fans recognize the team is prioritizing development, even if it means enduring some growing pains—particularly from young players like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, who have struggled at the plate. Amidst the challenges, there have been bright spots, such as the recent progress shown by Jose Barrero. While manager Oli Marmol might hope to take credit for Barrero’s offensive uptick, it’s actually Willson Contreras who’s had a hand in his development.
“We talked last night about loading earlier, and today he showed what he’s capable of when he does that,” said Contreras. “I enjoy talking hitting and will speak up when I notice something. That said, I’m not trying to take over Brant Brown’s role or step on anyone’s toes. But it’s pretty clear when someone’s timing is off, and I just told him, ‘Try loading earlier—you’ll see the difference.’”
Willson Contreras helped Cardinals teammate break out of a slump
After taking some advice from Contreras, Barrero hit his first home run since 2023. It’s striking that the Cardinals had weeks to offer Barrero the same straightforward feedback he ended up getting from a teammate in a single conversation. What gives? Contreras even shared more encouraging words with Barrero after the game. Instead of criticizing him for his struggles at the plate or focusing solely on his own stats, Contreras chose to be supportive.
“Barrero has all the tools to succeed in the majors,” Contreras said. “He’s talented, brings great energy, and is exactly the kind of player we need. It’s great having him around because that energy is contagious, and he’s just a solid teammate.”
Contreras isn’t eyeing anyone’s spot or trying to return behind the plate. He’s content at first base, where he’s currently hitting .355/.452/.532 over a 17-game on-base streak. At 32, he’s got plenty of experience to share, and Barrero is simply the latest to benefit from his insights.
If this keeps up, Contreras might just have a coaching career in his future. Marmol might want to keep an eye on that.