Red Sox newcomer brings homers, mind games, nickname and energy to lead offense

Willson Contreras has been a spark plug for the Red Sox, both on and off the field, in the early part of the 2026 season.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:50am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game or match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the raw energy and intensity of the sport.Willson Contreras' arrival has injected new energy and intensity into the Red Sox lineup, sparking the team's offense with his power and leadership.St. Louis Today

Willson Contreras, the Red Sox's new first baseman, has made an immediate impact on the team with his production at the plate, his leadership in the clubhouse, and his ability to energize his younger teammates. Contreras, a veteran of 10 MLB seasons, has brought a much-needed boost of energy and intensity to the Red Sox, who got off to a slow 4-8 start to the season. His call for more energy on Saturday catalyzed the team to a series win over the Cardinals, and his home runs and RBIs have been key to the Red Sox's recent success.

Why it matters

The Red Sox are hoping that Contreras' veteran presence and ability to lead by example can help turn around their slow start to the season. As a team with a mix of young and experienced players, the Red Sox need a player like Contreras to set the tone and bring the necessary energy and intensity to compete in the tough AL East division.

The details

Contreras went 6-for-13 with a home run and six RBIs against his former team, the Cardinals, in the weekend series. He also spoke up to his teammates on Saturday, imploring them to display more energy, which led to a five-run ninth inning and a series-clinching win. Contreras' two-run double on Saturday and his two-run homer on Sunday were key to the Red Sox's offensive outbursts. The veteran first baseman also revealed his Mario-themed nickname, 'Bowser', which his teammates embraced by wearing t-shirts depicting the character.

  • On Saturday, Contreras spoke up to his teammates about needing more energy.
  • On Saturday, Contreras hit a two-run double to give the Red Sox an early lead.
  • On Sunday, Contreras hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Red Sox an early 2-0 lead.

The players

Willson Contreras

A 10-year MLB veteran who was acquired by the Red Sox in the offseason. He has been a spark plug for the team both on and off the field, providing leadership, energy, and production at the plate.

Trevor Story

The Red Sox's starting shortstop, who praised Contreras' ability to bring energy and leadership to the clubhouse.

Brayan Bello

The Red Sox's starting pitcher on Sunday, who said the early lead provided by Contreras' home run helped him relax and pitch well.

Alex Cora

The Red Sox's manager, who said the team got more than just a right-handed bat when they acquired Contreras, praising his defense, plate discipline, and leadership.

Roman Anthony

The Red Sox's budding star, who is part of a talented young core that Contreras has helped energize.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes, in this game, you've got to create your own energy. It's easy to do when you're banging and everyone's hitting line drives everywhere and you're scoring a lot of runs. It's easy to do that. But obviously, that hasn't been the case for us thus far this season.”

— Trevor Story, Shortstop

“He brings a presence. He brings an intensity and some leadership, too. We love that, and that's what we need. We do have a younger group. He has done a great job of blending and making it all work. He has been a great addition and he's playing well.”

— Trevor Story, Shortstop

“We're bringing the energy up, overall, in the dugout. In this clubhouse, it definitely resonated.”

— Trevor Story, Shortstop

“There's a reason we got him, right? We needed a right-handed bat and we got more than that. We got a guy who's playing great defense at first base. He controls the strike zone. He's becoming a leader in the clubhouse. It's fun to have him around.”

— Alex Cora, Manager

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to build on their series win over the Cardinals as they continue their road trip, facing the Dodgers next.

The takeaway

Willson Contreras has been a transformative addition for the Red Sox, providing not only offensive production but also much-needed energy, leadership, and a veteran presence that has helped galvanize the team's younger players. His ability to lead by example and motivate his teammates could be a key factor in the Red Sox turning around their slow start to the season.