Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is facing uncertainty ahead of the American League wild-card series against the New York Yankees due to a hand injury sustained earlier this month. Contreras, who has been sidelined since being hit by a pitch on September 17, reported difficulty swinging the bat and acknowledged his availability for the pivotal postseason matchup remains unclear.

Contreras, a four-time All-Star, was struck on the knuckle of his right ring finger and pinkie during a game and has not played since the incident. Initially able to swing the bat during the team’s series against the Cleveland Guardians earlier this week, he said he was unable to do so on Wednesday or Thursday as pain persisted. Medical evaluations revealed no fractures, but attributed the ongoing discomfort to inflammation and a bone bruise.

“I’m working hard with the trainers; the hand is slowly getting better,” Contreras said Thursday, according to MLB.com. “But I haven’t been able to swing the last two days. I’ll be honest with the team. I know Tuesday is a really important game. It’s a really important series, and I’ll be completely honest with the team.”

Contreras is having one of the most productive seasons of his major league career, posting a .276 batting average with a .387 on-base percentage and .518 slugging percentage, along with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs. His absence could impact Boston’s offensive output as they prepare to face their division rivals in a high-stakes contest that could determine their postseason trajectory.

Expressing his frustration, Contreras described the emotional toll of his injury amid the critical stretch of the season. “It’s frustrating, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I was hoping to swing today, and I couldn’t swing. I came into my locker just tearing up because that’s what we play for. We play to play in October, and it’s really frustrating when we’re doing the best you can do and you’re expecting to heal faster and that doesn’t happen.”

The Red Sox have not confirmed a timeline for Contreras’ return, and the player indicated he will prioritize long-term recovery over a rushed comeback. “I plan to continue treatment over the next few days, but I won’t force the issue if my hand still doesn’t feel right,” he said.

Boston’s coaching staff and medical team are closely monitoring Contreras’ progress as they finalize their lineup heading into the wild-card series scheduled for next week.