When the Boston Red Sox acquired Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals over the winter, they were hoping he could supply production at first base, something they lacked last season.
Truth be told, it’s been something they have been lacking for a while. Things haven’t started well for the Red Sox in 2026. That can’t be said for Contreras.
Sitting at 6-9 through their first 15 games, Contreras is a reason why they are not worse. He had a big weekend in his return to St. Louis this weekend. While doing a lot of damage against his former team, he joined some elite Red Sox company as well.
Boston Red Sox First Baseman Willson Contreras Joins Elite Company Through 15 Games
After dropping the opener of the three-game series on Friday night against former teammate Dusty May, Boston bounced back to win the final two games of the series to win their second straight series. Contreras had a big hand in it.
He went 6-for-13 with a home run and six RBIs. It included a 4-for-5 Sunday afternoon in a 9-3 Red Sox win. When the dust settled on the weekend in St. Louis, Contreras joined David Ortiz, a Boston franchise legend, in the history books. According to former Red Sox director of baseball communications and media relations, JP Long, Contreras did something Ortiz accomplished 14 years ago.
“Willson Contreras is the first Red Sox player since David Ortiz (2012) to reach base at least 30 times in the team’s first 15 games of a season. Contreras is the first player to reach base 30+ times in his first 15 games as a member of the Red Sox since Kyle Schwarber (2021),” wrote Long.
What an addition Contreras has been for the Red Sox. Through 15 games, he has slashed .302/.448/.509. He has three home runs and 11 RBIs with two doubles. He has walked 11 times and been hit by a pitch three times. Contreras has an OPS of .957.
Red Sox Slowly Turning Things Around
After beginning the season 2-8 through 10 games, things are slowly turning around for Boston. They won two out of three over the Milwaukee Brewers last week at home. After taking two out of three over the Cardinals, they begin a three-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins in the Twin Cities.
Boston’s offense struggled early in the season. However, Contreras challenged his teammates this weekend before the second game against the Cardinals. It appears to have worked. They put up seven runs on Saturday night in a 7-1 win. On Sunday, they erupted for nine more in a 9-3 win.
Contreras hit a two-run home run in the first inning. In the fourth inning, he had an RBI single as part of his four-hit day for the 33-year-old.
Meanwhile, Boston’s pitching is slowly coming around. Brayan Bello had another good outing on Sunday, and they had the ball to Garrett Crochet on Monday in Minnesota. There is a good chance that the Red Sox could win a third straight series. If that ends up happening, then the slow start in the first two weeks could be a thing of the past.
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