Willson Contreras walked off the field at Globe Life Field on Thursday night after taking a 92.3 mph sinker from Jakob Junis flush on his right hand in the eighth inning, with Boston trailing Texas 3-1. Initial X-rays came back negative for a fracture, but interim manager Chad Tracy listed him as day-to-day, and Contreras himself said he’d likely sit out Friday. With nine games left and a Wild Card spot on the line, the timing couldn’t be worse.
What Happened in the Eighth
It was the very first pitch of Contreras’s at-bat. Junis threw a 92.3 mph sinker that caught him square on the right hand. Contreras walked to first in obvious pain — athletic trainer David Herrera and Tracy came out immediately — and never returned. Two batters later, Trevor Story hit a three-run home run off Jacob Latz to flip the score, and Boston walked away with a 4-3 win. The team won without him, but the real question is how many more games they might have to.
The HBP Record Nobody Wants
Thursday’s plunk was Contreras’s 24th hit-by-pitch of the 2026 season, matching the personal record he set back in 2022 with the Chicago Cubs. This is no fluke — Contreras has crowded the plate as a feature of his swing for years, and he led the league in HBP as far back as 2020. The night before, on Wednesday, he’d also been hit by a pitch — right after launching a two-run home run in the first inning of a 7-3 loss to Texas. Two HBPs in two days, same series, same opponent.
For context, Contreras sits third in MLB in hit-by-pitches this season, behind Ivan Herrera of the Cardinals (29) and Sam Antonacci of the White Sox (27). Third in the league — and he just tied his own career high.
Back Four Days, Already in Doubt
The situation stings even more given the timing. Contreras had been on the 10-day IL from August 31 through September 13 with a left hamstring strain. He returned Monday, September 14 — just four days before Thursday’s hit-by-pitch. The team announced additional imaging beyond the initial X-rays; they’re not closing the door on the diagnosis. It’s worth noting that earlier in 2026, Curtis Mead had negative X-rays that later revealed a fracture on more detailed scans. Boston is being cautious for good reason.
According to Statcast, Contreras is averaging 89.8 mph exit velocity this season and his bat speed ranks in the 96th percentile league-wide — two numbers that depend directly on having a healthy right hand. The Red Sox can’t afford to lose that in the final stretch.
Why It Matters for the Postseason
Boston currently holds the second AL Wild Card with a five-game cushion over the Cleveland Guardians, nine games remaining. The lead is real, but it’s not a lock — and Contreras is the engine of this offense. He leads the Red Sox with 27 home runs, 81 RBI, and a .905 OPS in 129 games. Losing him, even for a handful of days, in a Wild Card sprint is exactly the kind of blow that can change a series before it even starts.
The Numbers Behind the Player
Contreras doesn’t show up in the elite Statcast tiers by accident. Here’s what the 2026 numbers look like:
- 533 plate appearances
- 27 home runs, 81 RBI
- AVG: .276 | OPS: .905
- xwOBA: .377 (95th percentile)
- Exit velocity: 89.8 mph avg
- Barrel rate: 13.4% (89th percentile)
- Hard-hit rate: 44%
- Bat speed: 77 mph avg (96th percentile)
The contact metrics — whiff rate (14th percentile) and squared-up rate (6th percentile) — show he doesn’t make the prettiest contact, but when he connects, he connects hard. Stats don’t lie, and these ones make a strong case.
