In the first inning of the Boston Red Sox's Mother's Day tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays, Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch. It's nothing Boston hasn't seen before — he'd been hit an American League-leading seven times — but the first baseman seemed to be in some pain this time.
Contreras, interim manager Chad Tracy and a trainer made the slow walk to first base, feeling and flexing Contreras' hand the whole way there. After a few minute long injury delay, he remained in the game to run the bases.
But Andruw Monasterio took the field to play first base the next inning (and he immediately made a great play to catch Ryan Vilade in a rundown). The Red Sox have diagnosed Contreras with a right hand contusion, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, and he's almost certain to need x-rays.
Contreras has been one of Boston's most consistent hitters all year and one of its only regular sources of power. The veteran is slashing .259/.380/.467 with 20 walks, four doubles, eight homers and 23 RBI over 39 games.
Willson Contreras leaves Red Sox-Rays game with hand contusion after being hit by a pitch
Contreras has also played some of the best first base defense the Red Sox have seen in years since his arrival. He's tied for the lead among first basemen with four defensive runs saved and his five outs above average rank in the 98th percentile.
The Red Sox have had a few injury scares with Contreras after other hit by pitches, which have always been part of his game. Contreras tends to crowd the plate, which he also did as a catcher — it'll help him get on base by being plunked every once in a while, but the risk of injury is also high.
Monasterio could continue playing first base if Contreras needs a long absence. The Red Sox also have Isiah Kiner-Falefa who's played all across the infield in his many years as a utility player. Boston recently gave a positive injury update on Romy Gonzalez, who is expected to return from the IL in about a month (subscription required). Hopefully, Contreras won't be out that long.
Losing Contreras for any amount of time is a brutal blow for Boston, which is already short Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet, two of the other players on the team with the greatest impact. With any luck, the contusion will be all that's bugging him, but the Red Sox haven't been very lucky this season.
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