The Boston Red Sox have officially placed first baseman Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list as of Monday, following a left hamstring strain that has been troubling him for some time. This decision comes after Contreras exited Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees in the seventh inning due to tightness in his hamstring.
Interim manager Chad Tracy addressed the situation during a post-game interview, initially describing the move as precautionary, given the context of the game. However, it has since become clear that the team believes a more extended period of rest is necessary for Contreras to recover fully. Tracy indicated that the injury is a recurrence of a previous issue, emphasizing that it is not a new or more severe injury.
“I don’t want to paint the picture that something way worse happened. Just a recurring of the same thing,” Tracy stated, as reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive. He added that the team had been considering whether to continue allowing Contreras to play through the discomfort, but ultimately decided that a full 10-day recovery period would be more beneficial. “We didn’t have a huge setback or anything as far as where it’s been, so I’m hopeful that it’s that amount of time and we get him back and he’s able to play the game full bore like he likes to do,” he said.
Contreras's ongoing hamstring issues have led to some criticism from fans, particularly regarding his effort in running to first base, which has resulted in boos during games. Despite this, Contreras has clarified that he has received guidance from the coaching staff to manage his running pace to avoid aggravating the injury.
In a strategic move, the Red Sox opted to call up Mickey Gasper to fill the roster spot left by Contreras. Gasper had recently been sent down to make room for other players, but his strong performance at the plate—boasting a 1.710 OPS over 11 games this month—made him a valuable addition to the roster during this critical time.
Tracy explained the rationale behind the decision to bring Gasper back, stating, “We’re just to the point where you know, ‘If we need to give him another few days to let it calm down, we’re getting to a point where it’s tough to be short bodies.” He highlighted the necessity of having a strong lineup as the team approaches the final stretch of the season.
Contreras has struggled at the plate recently, hitting just .217 in August, which has contributed to the team’s decision to prioritize his health. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Red Sox are keen to ensure that Contreras returns to form and can contribute effectively to the team’s efforts as they push for a postseason berth.
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