Willson Contreras gets hit by a lot of pitches — he's been hit 24 times in 129 games this year, tying his career high — but the one on September 17 was different. Contreras mostly takes his base without issue, occasionally chirping pitchers and trying to rally his teammates on the way, but it was obvious something was wrong this time.
In the top of the eighth inning, a pitch from Texas Rangers pitcher Jakob Junis knocked Contreras in the hand. The first baseman hit the ground and immediately shook out his hand in pain. He walked off the field with a trainer uncharacteristically fast, which only worsened fans' nerves.
Postgame x-rays of Contreras' hand came back clear of any breaks but he's still experiencing pain (according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive). Contreras is less convinced by the results of the imaging. He told reporters he thinks his hand is fractured and that it went numb for a time after the hit (via Tim Healey of The Boston Globe).
The Red Sox have classified Contreras as day-to-day, but his reaction coupled with the club's history of evaluating injuries has some people doubting the diagnosis. The situation is reminiscent of what happened with Curtis Mead.
Willson Contreras' pain level seemingly outweighing initial diagnosis is giving Red Sox fans Curtis Mead flashbacks
Chad Tracy with a somewhat positive update on Willson Contreras: "We did an x-ray, it's negative, he's got a bruise on the hand and some swelling. We'll just take it day-to-day."
— NESN (@NESN) September 18, 2026
🎙️ Presented by @WBMasonCo pic.twitter.com/XqySbUJ1bH
A pitch plunked Mead on the wrist in his second at-bat as a Red Sox following the team's acquisition at the trade deadline. Initial imaging came back clear. The following day, he underwent a more detailed scan that revealed a wrist fracture. The fracture was non-displaced, meaning the broken part of his wrist remained aligned so he didn't have to undergo surgery to repair it, but his wrist is fractured all the same.
The Red Sox had better hope their initial diagnosis is correct this time. Losing Contreras for any amount of time, even with a day-to-day diagnosis, is a brutal outcome for the Sox. He's fresh off the injured list after a nearly two-week stint with a hamstring issue and he expects to be sidelined again for at least a few days.
Contreras has been Boston's most important bat all season and his career-high 27 home runs lead the team. The Red Sox need Contreras at his best for their playoff run, but if his hand is injured in any way, "his best" may be out the window.
Hopefully Contreras' initial diagnosis is right and Boston doesn't have another Mead situation on its hands. Contreras has been too important to the Red Sox's offense all season and his leadership is too valuable to lose him long-term at such a critical time, but the injury bug doesn't bite at ideal times.
Add us as a preferred source on Google