Willson Contreras showed reporters the swollen and bruised area on his right hand Saturday afternoon, a day after being hit by a pitch during Thursday’s game against the Texas Rangers. The injury, located on the knuckles between his pinky and ring finger, left him unable to grip a bat well enough to continue playing. Contreras described feeling numbness immediately after being hit, which raised concerns of a fracture and led to his removal from the game.
Initial X-rays were negative for fractures, and further imaging will be delayed until the swelling subsides. Drawing on previous injury experience, Contreras expressed confidence that no fracture occurred, noting that he would not be able to squeeze his hand if there were one. He said his hand soreness is improving gradually, allowing him to flex and squeeze better than the day before. Contreras hopes to take some batting swings on Sunday but emphasized he must be cautious as the injury affects his top hand, critical for absorbing impact during contact.
The first baseman is aiming to return to the field before the playoffs, possibly resuming play Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians after Boston’s off-day Monday. To protect his injured hand, Contreras mentioned the possibility of using a guard over his batting glove. Managing the injury on a day-to-day basis, he expressed a strong desire to be available for his teammates in the postseason.
Contreras has been hit by pitches 24 times this season—tied for third most in Major League Baseball—and 47 times over the past two seasons. This frequency is attributed in part to his tendency to stand close to the plate. Following Thursday’s incident, Contreras suggested Sox pitchers might consider retaliating on his behalf. Interim manager Chad Tracy acknowledged Contreras’s frustration over being hit so often but did not commit to any specific response from the pitching staff. Tracy noted that while Contreras crowds the plate, other players who do so are not hit nearly as frequently.
In related team updates, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela is making progress in his recovery from a strained right quadriceps that sidelined him since September 3. Rafaela participated in live batting practice at the Worcester minor league facility on Saturday and said he felt comfortable and rested. The remaining hurdle is to sprint at full effort, which he plans to attempt Sunday, with hopes of returning to the major league roster for the Guardians series on Tuesday.
Left-handed pitcher Tanner Houck is also advancing in his recovery from elbow surgery. In his fourth minor league appearance Saturday, Houck pitched 3⅓ innings for Worcester, allowing two runs (one earned), striking out two, and issuing no walks. Houck has logged eight innings and nine strikeouts across his rehab outings and could be available in the bullpen for the playoffs.
Manager Chad Tracy indicated that left-hander Garrett Crochet might face hitters early in the coming week at Fenway Park, though it is uncertain if one session would suffice for postseason eligibility. Right-handed reliever Tyron Guerrero, sidelined since early September due to a shoulder issue, might be activated off the injured list as soon as Sunday.
The Red Sox continue to contend for a postseason spot, balancing player health and roster decisions as the regular season winds down.