Willson Contreras Warns Brewers After Being Hit By Pitch

Red Sox star says he'll 'take one of them out' if hit again by Milwaukee pitchers.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player being struck by a pitch, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives conveying the raw emotion and physicality of the confrontation.A cubist interpretation of the tensions between Willson Contreras and the Milwaukee Brewers over repeated hit-by-pitch incidents.Boston Today

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras warned the Milwaukee Brewers that he will 'take one of them out' if he is hit by another pitch, after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff on Monday night. Contreras has been hit by pitches 131 times in his MLB career, including 24 times by the Brewers, and has a history of testy exchanges with Woodruff, who has hit him six times.

Why it matters

The ongoing tensions between Contreras and the Brewers highlight the physical and emotional toll that repeated hit-by-pitch incidents can take on players, as well as the challenges of maintaining sportsmanship when rivalries become heated. This incident also raises questions about player safety and whether more needs to be done to protect batters from intentional or reckless pitches.

The details

In the latest incident, Contreras was hit on the left hand by a Woodruff fastball that grazed his fingers. Contreras yelled at Woodruff from first base, and later slid hard into second base, banging into Brewers shortstop David Hamilton's left knee with his cleats and tearing Hamilton's pants. Contreras hit a solo homer in the ninth inning and reached base five times, flinging his bat after both his homer and a first-inning walk.

  • On April 6, 2026, Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch from Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff.
  • Contreras has been hit by pitches 131 times in his MLB career, including 24 times by the Brewers.

The players

Willson Contreras

A first baseman for the Boston Red Sox who has a history of being hit by pitches, especially from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Brandon Woodruff

A right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who has hit Contreras six times in his career.

David Hamilton

The Milwaukee Brewers' shortstop who was involved in a hard slide by Contreras that tore Hamilton's pants.

William Contreras

Willson Contreras' younger brother, who was the Milwaukee Brewers' catcher in the game.

Pat Murphy

The Milwaukee Brewers' manager who challenged the call that Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch, though the call was upheld.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'They always say, 'I'm not trying to hit you.' That gets old. So, next time they hit me again, I'm going to take one of them out. That's a message.'”

— Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox First Baseman

“'I mean, we've been through that. It's been like nine years for me. It seems like every year. He's trying to play a game and he's trying to get his side fired up, which is fine. Once I knew what was going on, I wasn't going to let it affect me.'”

— Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher

“'I tried.' ”

— William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers Catcher

“'I was going to check it whether it was my bother at the plate or not. I saw it a little closer than it was.'”

— William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers Catcher

What’s next

The two teams have two games left in their three-game series, setting the stage for potential further tensions and retaliation between Contreras and the Brewers.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining sportsmanship and player safety in the face of heated rivalries and repeated hit-by-pitch incidents in baseball. It raises questions about whether more needs to be done to protect players and de-escalate tensions between teams and players with a history of bad blood.