Wilson Contreras started the season strong with the St. Louis Cardinals, securing a win. However, he couldn’t make an impact during the team’s opening game of the 2025 season, which marked the beginning of the series against the Minnesota Twins.
Known as one of the Cardinals’ top hitters, Contreras typically attracts attention at the plate. This time, though, it was for something unusual—he was seen using his teeth to remove the batting tape from his bat in an attempt to feel more comfortable swinging. Rather than spitting the tape on the ground, Contreras kept it in his mouth, chewing it as if it were gum.
At that point, the game was tied 1-1, and Contreras was unable to contribute anything to help his team score a run or even get himself on base. It seems the batting tape did little to enhance his strength against the Twins pitcher.
Chewing gum or batting tape aside, Contreras needs to be a bit more effective at the plate. While it’s far too early to judge him after just two games, Baseball Reference projects a .252 batting average with 17 home runs over at least 429 plate appearances in 2025—numbers that could significantly bolster the Cardinals’ lineup.
Which type of gum do MLB players use?
There’s a well-known brand called Big League Chew, which isn’t just any bubble gum—it’s specially designed and widely used by many players and teams in the league. Its shredded form resembles chewing tobacco, offering a unique appeal. This brand has been part of MLB since 1980 and was invented by pitcher Rob Nelson alongside his Portland Mavericks teammates, with the help of bat boy Todd Field.
The Cardinals’ next series
The season got off to a solid start with two wins in their opening series. After their matchups against the Twins, the Cardinals will remain at home to prove the benefits of playing at Busch Stadium as they take on Mike Trout’s Angels.