After a lackluster start on both sides of the ball, the Boston Red Sox have needed multiple shots in the arm to get into a rhythm this season. On multiple occasions, Willson Contreras has provided.
The veteran first baseman came to Boston from the St. Louis Cardinals over the offseason to take over the role Alex Bregman vacated — a skilled hitter and defender with years of experience in the league to guide the young core. But Contreras also brings something Bregman never did: chippiness, maybe even a bit of a mean streak (in the best possible way).
The Red Sox put together an offensive onslaught on May 5 against Framber Valdez, which included a home run from Contreras, his eighth of the year. Wilyer Abreu also hit one over the fence immediately after Contreras, and Valdez proceeded to take his anger out on Trevor Story by hitting him with a pitch.
Before Story recovered from the fastball he wore, Contreras was out of the dugout and in the face of home plate umpire Adam Beck, objecting to Valdez's cowardly move. The rest of the Red Sox followed, which lead to both benches clearing. No punches were thrown, but one thing was clear: Contreras had Story's back.
Willson Contreras is bringing the energy — at the plate and in the scrum — the Red Sox desperately need
Willson's ready to go to war for Trevor if needed 😆 https://t.co/Yx4YKv0hHV pic.twitter.com/M62Coxdmyr
— NESN (@NESN) May 6, 2026
Red Sox/NESN color commentator Will Middlebrooks said he thought Contreras wanted to "eat" Valdez after he plunked his teammate. Contreras takes any mistreatment of himself and his teammates seriously — in early April, Contreras jawed with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff after he hit him with a pitch for the sixth time in his career. The catcher-turned-first baseman said he would "take one of them out" if he was hit by another Brewers pitcher, which might've helped the Sox rally to a series win, their first of the season.
Not only has Contreras brought a fighting spirit to the Red Sox, he's a spark plug on both sides of the ball. He's slashing .270/.382/.492 and leads the team in home runs. He's also the first excellent defender Boston has had at first base in quite some time and he's been one of the best first basemen in the league through the first months of 2026.
The Contreras trade is easily Craig Breslow's best move of the last offseason. Ranger Suárez has been a great addition to the rotation and he's a monster in the playoffs, but Contreras has been the total package so far. He hits consistently, hits for power, gets on base by any means necessary, plays impeccable defense and isn't afraid to give or take a punch for his teammates. The Red Sox are desperate for that energy as they struggle this year and Contreras is bringing it.
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