Despite a disappointing first half of the season, the Red Sox have acquired a few All-Stars to represent them in Philadelphia next Tuesday. Ranger Suarez and Aroldis Chapman are already headed there. But today, after Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted out of the event, Willson Contreras slid into that spot and joined the American League.
Willson Contreras Named as All-Star Reserve
Contreras came over to the Red Sox in the offseason from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a package of pitchers, most notably Hunter Dobbins. The season before, Contreras had a batting average of .257, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 80 runs. Defensively, he did pretty well despite his -1 DRS. At first base, he had a .990 fielding percentage.
The Red Sox had gone after him because, honestly, their last solid first baseman was Mitch Moreland. Homegrown prospect Triston Casas had a very promising rookie season, but since then, he’s been unable to stay on the field. After he went down in early May last season, the first base position had a rotation of players coming through, such as Abraham Toro and Nathaniel Lowe. It was time for a change, so they brought in Contreras.
Contreras’s First Half
The first half of their newcomer couldn’t have gone any better for this team, relatively speaking. He’s been one of the best, if not the best, bats in this lineup. In 86 games thus far, he’s matched his home run total from last season. And he’s doing it for a team that wasn’t projected to have a batter hit 20 this year. This team struggles with power massively, but he is a bright spot for them.
He’s also improved his batting average as well, as at this point last year (July 7th, despite a day off at that point), he was hitting .250. Currently, he’s batting .284, so it’s safe to say that Fenway is helping his right-handed bat a lot. And in return, that helps out the Red Sox, who have a majority-lefty lineup this year.
His glove has also been handy for the Red Sox, as taking over at first this year has gotten him a .995 fielding percentage. It’s a little early, but he should almost certainly be in AL Gold Glove talks come award season, barring anything drastic.
Awaiting Suspension and Drama
It is noteworthy that he is awaiting a possible suspension for his role in the fight between the Red Sox and the Washington Nationals last Tuesday. While Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli has gotten his suspension reduced from seven games to five (meaning he almost won’t miss any time), Contreras’s appeal to the suspension is still under review.
The bottom line is, even though they were both involved in a fight (in which Contreras did much more), the difference between the two is that Contreras also chirped at a fan on social media after his ejection but during the game. So the commissioner may keep his suspension as such due to the extracurriculars.
But controversy surrounding Contreras has been a recurring theme this season. He’s been hit 14 times this season, including once by Milwaukee that caused some drama between the player and team given their history. He has been seen as a player who acts on emotions, and some people like that, while others don’t. Regardless of opinion, this suspension does not affect his All-Star appearance. He will be appearing whether he gets it shortened or not.
Contreras’s Huge Impact
Contreras has been a key player to this Red Sox offense, and his bat could have a big impact in the future. Despite some trade rumors flying around for key players, if the Red Sox finish the first half strong, they would still be in contention for a Wild Card spot in the American League. If that’s the case, Contreras’s second half could be part of the push they need to get them in the playoffs.
His contract is also under team control for next year at least, so he’s a valuable veteran to keep around for a young team. For the next couple of years, Contreras is a guy that needs to be on this team. Contreras and more can be seen at the All-Star Game on July 14th in Philadelphia.
Main Photo Credits: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
