Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is officially an All-Star. Just not the way anyone expected a week ago.
The league announced Sunday that Contreras will replace Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the American League roster for the July 14 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Guerrero Jr. is dealing with a lower back injury and opted to rest rather than play in his sixth career All-Star Game.
Contreras was arguably the biggest snub when the initial rosters dropped on July 4. A lot of people around the game thought he deserved a spot from the jump. Now he’s got one, and he’s headed to Philly.
Kurtz Gets the Start
Nick Kurtz, who led all AL first basemen in Player Ballot votes, will start in Guerrero’s place. It’s the first All-Star selection for Kurtz, which is a nice story in its own right. But the real chatter is about Contreras finally getting his due.
The Red Sox are having a rough year. They’re sitting in last place in the AL East, and nobody’s pretending this season is going anywhere. But Contreras has been a bright spot. He’s hitting .284 with a .354 on-base percentage and a .920 OPS. He’s already got 20 home runs and 59 RBIs. That home run total is the most he’s had since 2022 when he hit 22. And he’s on pace to blow past his career high of 24 from 2019.
This will be the fourth All-Star nod of his career. Not bad for a guy who spent most of his early years as a catcher before moving to first base.
What This Means for Boston
Look, the Red Sox aren’t contenders this year. But having Contreras represent the team in the All-Star Game gives fans something to feel good about. He’s been a consistent producer in a lineup that’s had its share of ups and downs. And honestly, for a team that’s already looking ahead to next season, having a veteran like Contreras get this kind of recognition matters.
The All-Star Game is July 14. Contreras will likely get a few at-bats off the bench, maybe a late-inning defensive swap. But the real win here is just getting the invite.
He earned it. Took a little longer than it should have, but he earned it.
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