Willson Contreras Takes Shot to the Hand and Exits, But X-Rays Come Back Clean

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras got drilled on the right hand by Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez in the first inning Sunday and didn't return for the second. The club immediately sent him for imaging to rule out anything serious, and here's the good news: initial X-rays came back negative.

"Sore. That's all we know at this point," interim manager Chad Tracy said after the game. "And obviously we have an off day (Monday). That helps a lot, and then we'll kind of reevaluate and see how he feels and hopefully we're OK there."

Contreras ran the bases after taking the pitch before the Red Sox pulled him as a precaution, initially diagnosing it as a contusion. For a veteran like Contreras, an extra day of rest heading into Monday's off day could be exactly what he needs to shake it off.

An Unlucky Streak Getting Worse

This was the eighth time Contreras has been hit by a pitch this season, which ties him with St. Louis' J.J. Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera for the MLB lead. For a guy who turns 34 on Wednesday, that's a lot of unwanted contact.

Through 39 games, the three-time All-Star is leading Boston with eight homers and 23 RBIs while batting .259. It's his first season with the Red Sox after stints with the Chicago Cubs (2016-22) and St. Louis Cardinals (2023-25). Over his career, Contreras owns a .258 average with 180 homers and 571 RBIs across 1,116 games.

Red Sox Fall Short in Tampa

Andruw Monasterio stepped in at first base and went 2-for-3 with a double, but the Red Sox couldn't overcome the Rays. Tampa Bay won 4-1, leaving Boston with a rough 17-23 record heading into that Monday break.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.