Red Sox Star Willson Contreras Reveals Frustrating Injury Update

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras left Thursday night’s game after taking a pitch off his right hand, then said X-rays showed no break even though the blow felt familiar and left him numb.

The Red Sox still won 4-3 over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field when Trevor Story launched a three-run homer later in the eighth inning. Contreras had gone 1-for-3 with a single before the incident.

A 92.3 mph sinker from Jakob Junis struck Contreras on the first pitch of the at-bat after Wilyer Abreu led off the inning with a walk. Contreras reached first in visible pain, was checked by a trainer and headed to the dugout.

Interim manager Chad Tracy said afterward that Contreras has a bruised right hand and is day to day. X-rays were negative.

Contreras described the moment this way: “Sore. Painful. My hand was numb for like five minutes. That was the reason I came out of the game. I have fractured, before, the same hand. It felt like a fracture. Thankfully, it’s not a fracture on the top of the bone. I’m just frustrated.”

The 34-year-old has been hit by 24 pitches this season, tying his career high for a single year. He has long crowded the plate.

Boston improved to 83-70 with the victory and sits third in the AL East, 10.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox hold a wild-card position with nine games left, beginning Friday in St. Petersburg.

Sonny Gray worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six. The Rangers had jumped ahead 3-0 on a Josh Jung solo homer, a Danny Jansen RBI single and an Evan Carter sacrifice bunt.

Boston’s first run came on a Nicky Lopez throwing error in the second. Story’s homer off Jacob Latz flipped the score after Contreras departed.

Contreras is in his first season with the Red Sox after an offseason trade from St. Louis. He is hitting .276 with a .387 on-base percentage, .518 slugging percentage, 27 home runs and 81 RBIs in 129 games. Those home run and RBI totals are career highs.

He spent time on the 10-day injured list earlier this month with a strained left hamstring that had bothered him for weeks. He returned Sept. 13 and had been productive in a limited sample before Thursday.

The club next plays a three-game series at Tampa Bay before returning home to face Cleveland and Chicago. Contreras’ availability for Friday will be monitored.

Texas used seven pitchers. Cody Bradford threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the longest outing of the night for the Rangers, who fell to 76-77.

Boston’s pitching staff has posted one of the American League’s better ERAs this season, helping offset stretches of uneven offense. Losing Contreras even for a short stretch would thin a lineup that has leaned on his power in the middle of the order.

The Red Sox acquired Contreras to fill a first-base need and add a proven bat. He is signed through 2027 with a 2028 club option.

Team trainers will continue to evaluate swelling and range of motion. Tracy offered no further timeline beyond the day-to-day designation.

Story’s homer was the decisive blow in a game that stayed tight after the early Rangers lead. Gray kept Boston close enough for the late rally.

Contreras’ season line still ranks among the club’s most productive even after the recent hamstring absence. The latest hand bruise is the latest in a string of physical issues he has tried to play through.

Boston will assess him again Friday before the series opener against the Rays.