Cardinals' Contreras: 'I've lost my confidence' amid hitting slump

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras is searching for answers at the plate during a prolonged hitting slump.

"This is my first time since I've been in the big leagues that I have struggled this bad," Contreras said Monday amid a 5-for-59 slide, according to John Denton of MLB.com. "I think I've lost my confidence and I lost my trust, and lost the trust that I came into the season with. It just went away."

Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5-million contract in the offseason. He's slashing .201/.293/.352 with seven homers over 62 games in what is shaping up as the worst campaign of his eight-year career. However, the 31-year-old is trying to look for silver linings to help him bust out.

"I don't think, I know I have to keep going," Contreras added. "Right now, I have to find ways to get myself going. I've been hitting the ball hard, but right to people. That's something that is out of my control, but man, I just have to keep playing hard one play at a time and be the best that I can for the team and my teammates."

The three-time All-Star has endured a trying first season with the 27-40 Cardinals. He briefly lost his job as the club's starting catcher in early May due to issues with framing and the pitching staff, and he has struggled to replace legend Yadier Molina.