Boston Red Sox
Contreras appeared to hurt his hamstring in the middle of Friday’s game, but stayed in after a meeting with the training staff.
Willson Contreras did not suffer an injury on Friday despite a quick check in with Boston’s training staff. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Red Sox seem to have finally caught a break from the injury bug Friday night.
A hustle play by Willson Contreras to extend Boston’s lead turned hairy when the slugger appeared to be in some pain in the area of his hamstring. But, after talking it over with Chad Tracy and the training staff on the field, Contreras stayed in and finished the game.
Contreras came up big for the Red Sox on Friday, hitting a solo home run to get things going right away in the first inning against the Rangers. He was responsible for three of Boston’s 12 hits and two of its RBIs. Almost inarguably the best batter this season, Contreras is certainly a piece it can’t afford to lose.
The veteran had an eventful end of the night as well Friday, as he got drilled by a fastball courtesy of Cal Quantrill — yes, that Cal Quantrill — in the seventh inning. The ever-intense Contreras brushed it off with a slow walk to first, but threw up two fingers to Boston’s dugout, keeping track that he was the second batter Quantrill nailed.
Tracy took note of it as well, but did add that he didn’t necessarily question Quantrill’s intentions overall.
“No, I don’t think so,” Tracy said. “I mean, you see reactions, guys don’t like getting hit. It’s that simple. I’ve been hit plenty and it’s not fun to get hit. There was a lot of balls [inside] today.”
The Red Sox have dealt with enough injuries as it is this season. Garrett Crochet hasn’t been in the lineup since April, Trevor Story has been out long term with his sports hernia, and Roman Anthony hasn’t been able to swing a bat in weeks, either.
Not to mention Triston Casas, who’s been out of action for over a year now, Tanner Houck, who will almost certainly miss all of 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, and Romy Gonzalez, who’s finally nearing a rehab stint ahead of a potential season debut later in June.
Boston’s 2026 struggles are certainly not injury related, but the injury bug isn’t helping it, either. Luckily, the Red Sox don’t have to find a replacement for Contreras.
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