Willson Contreras has four days to turn a bruised right hand into a postseason-ready swing, and the Red Sox first baseman is not pretending the clock is on his side.
Boston is expected to begin its American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday night, likely at Yankee Stadium, but its biggest power threat remains uncertain after being struck on the knuckle between the ring finger and pinkie of his right hand one week ago. Contreras was able to take swings before the club opened its series against Cleveland, yet lingering inflammation kept him from repeating the work over the following two days.
“It’s very concerning,” Contreras said. “I’m doing everything possible with the trainers, and the hand is getting better little by little. But I haven’t been able to swing for the last two days. Tuesday is a huge game and a huge series, so I’ll be honest with the team about where I am.”
Boston waits on its cleanup force
The concern is understandable. In his first season with the Red Sox, Contreras has supplied a career-best offensive line, batting .276 with a .387 on-base percentage, a .518 slugging percentage, 27 home runs and 81 RBIs in 129 games.
Manager Chad Tracy said the club has seen gradual improvement, though soreness has not disappeared. Boston would like to get Contreras into the final regular-season game if he is capable, giving him a chance to test the hand before the playoff opener.
“There have been small steps forward, but it’s still sore,” Tracy said. “We’re working through it with the postseason in mind. We’re pushing to see if he can get into the last game. If there’s an opening to get him back out there, he usually finds a way quickly.”
Contreras underwent a CT scan on Wednesday after initial X-rays at Globe Life Field in Texas, where the injury occurred. The follow-up brought welcome news: no fracture had appeared. The diagnosis remains inflammation and a bone bruise.
That has not made the wait any easier for a player who has spent the season helping Boston reach October.
“It’s frustrating,” Contreras said. “I thought I would be able to swing today, and I couldn’t. I got back to my locker tearing up, because this is what we play for. You play to be part of October. You do all you can, expect it to heal quicker, and sometimes it just doesn’t.”
The top hand is the problem
Contreras said the location of the injury complicates his mechanics. As a right-handed hitter, the injured hand is his top hand on the bat, and he feels the weakness before he can finish his swing.
“If it were the other hand, I could probably work around it more,” Contreras said. “But with my right hand, it feels weak until I let the bat go. That isn’t a good sign.”
He plans to continue treatment and attempt to swing again Friday and Saturday. His recovery program has included laser treatment, shockwave therapy, contrast work, massage and medication.
Contreras stressed that he will not push his way into the lineup simply because the calendar says postseason. Boston lost Thursday night, but he said the clubhouse remains energized for Tuesday and that he does not want to take a roster spot from a teammate if he cannot play effectively.
“I don’t want to hurt the team in any way,” he said. “The guys here have played every day, and I respect that. If I don’t feel right, I don’t want to take someone else’s spot. I want to be there with the boys, but you also have to listen to your body.”
First-base alternatives are ready
If Contreras cannot answer the bell, Boston has internal options at first base. Mickey Gasper and Nick Sogard could handle the position, while a recall of Romy Gonzalez from Triple-A is also under consideration.
For now, the Red Sox will let the days do their work. Contreras has not ruled himself out, and the clean imaging gives him a reason to keep trying. But his availability for Game 1 will come down to a simple October test: whether he can grip the bat, take a full cut and trust his right hand when the game matters most.
