Red Sox Place Willson Contreras on Injured List with Hamstring Strain

Red Sox Place Willson Contreras on Injured List with Hamstring Strain

The Boston Red Sox have placed first baseman Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, as reported by multiple outlets. The team recalled Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester to take his spot on the roster.

Contreras, who departed Sunday's blowout loss to the New York Yankees early due to hamstring soreness, will be sidelined through at least September 9, according to MassLive. The 34-year-old has been open about his discomfort, which has been present since early August, and has said he has permission from interim manager Chad Tracy and Boston's coaches to not run hard.

Contreras has been a key part of Boston's lineup this season, hitting a career-high 26 home runs with 79 RBI and a .274 batting average in 125 games, as reported by Heavy. However, his production has dipped in recent weeks. In 23 August games (98 plate appearances), he hit .217 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, a .715 OPS and 26 strikeouts, according to MassLive. On the team's road trip to Miami and New York, Contreras was 3-for-23 (.130) with a triple and seven strikeouts.

NBC10 Boston reports that Contreras got off to a strong start in his first year with the Red Sox, hitting .285 with a .921 OPS, 20 home runs, and 16 doubles from the start of the season through the All-Star break, where he participated in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. He hit .308 with a 1.099 OPS in the 14 games coming out of the break before getting hit in the head with a pitch in Los Angeles. Since that incident, he has batted .217 with a .715 OPS while also dealing with a leg injury.

The leg injury contributed to Contreras getting booed at Fenway Park after not legging out a ground ball in a Saturday matinee loss to the Athletics on Aug. 8, as reported by NBC10 Boston. Contreras explained days later that he was dealing with a leg injury. On Aug. 19, in extra innings against the Diamondbacks, Contreras again did not go all out running to first base and cupped his hand to his ear while walking toward the dugout, verbally engaging with a fan. After that game, Contreras said, "I'm not 100 percent. We never are, but I'm taking care of my leg. If I have to run, I'll push it a little bit. If I don't, my manager has my back. And I talked to him, and he gave me the permission to just do whatever it takes to take care of my legs, and that's it. I just don't care."

In the nine games since those comments, Contreras is batting .152 with a .566 OPS, going 5-for-33 with nine strikeouts, according to NBC10 Boston. He was pulled after the seventh inning on Sunday against the Yankees, capping a 1-for-14 weekend in the Bronx.

Red Sox Turn to Depth Options

Contreras has started 123 of Boston's first 137 games at first base, but the club will now turn to depth options for at least 10 days, as reported by MassLive. Gasper, who was sent down along with Anthony Seigler on Sunday when Roman Anthony and Trevor Story were activated from the injured list, will play first base Monday, marking his third start of the season at the position. Nick Sogard, Andruw Monasterio, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who will be activated from the injured list Tuesday when rosters expand to 28, can also play first.

Gasper was phenomenal during his most recent stint with the team, hitting .423 (11-for-26) with five home runs, three doubles, 12 RBIs and a 1.710 OPS in an 11-game period, according to MassLive. On Sunday, Tracy lamented the fact that the 30-year-old was the odd man out with Anthony returning, and remarked, "Very possibly he might win Player of the Week."

NBC10 Boston reports that Gasper, since his call-up, is hitting .278 with an .840 OPS in 45 games. Despite that performance, he was sent down to Triple-A along with Seigler on Sunday, but the demotion lasted only one day.

The Red Sox will navigate series against the Mariners, Orioles, and Angels without Contreras in the middle of their lineup, as reported by NBC10 Boston.