He is Danny Ainge.
He is Brad Marchand.
He is the player opponents look across at and bristle about, while teammates wrily smile in appreciation.
He is Willson Contreras, and he was the guy the fans at Fenway Park were glad to call their own Friday afternoon.
The obvious introduction the Red Sox’s cleanup hitter gave his new hometown fans was a game-winning, sixth-inning home run over the left field wall that allowed Alex Cora’s team a lead it would never relinquish in what ultimately ended in the Sox’s 5-2 win over the Padres. Yes, that was part of the package promised when Craig Breslow decided to trade for the veteran first baseman.
Hit cleanup. Hit home runs. Make up for a good chunk of the offense left behind by the departure of Alex Bregman. It was a skill set, both at-bat and in the field, that made a lot of sense to add. Certainly, in this first home game of the 2026 season, it made a ton of sense.
But that really shouldn’t have been the biggest takeaway from Contreras’ first foray into live on Landsdowne.
It was, instead, the word used more than once when talking about the player. It’s the ‘A’ word. It’s what Contreras has, and what this Red Sox team will need.
“He brings an attitude,” Cora said of the 33-year-old. “He brings an attitude that I think will gel well with what we expect here from players.
You can often expect it, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get it. Will Contreras, you get it. That was the reminder put on full display even before the sixth-inning blast landed 423 feet from home plate. It percolated in his first at-bat, when San Diego starter Michael King brushed back the righty hitter with a high and tight fastball on the showdown, forcing a full count.
A clearly annoyed Contreras then started to define his existence when a called third strike led to an immediate tap of the helmet for an ABS challenge. But, unlike in most such situations, the hitter had no patience for the technology-driven decision, sauntering to first where his arrival was greeted with the announcement that it was, indeed, a walk.
The vindicated batter punctuated his non-verbal salvo toward King and home plate umpire Chris Segal by firing his elbow card toward the Red Sox’s dugout. It was undeniably the most demonstrative ABS challenge in the short history of big league ABS challenges. It was also the kind of overt no-nonense action that should scratch right where this team itches.
"I mean, I think that's the way I play. I'm not trying to disrespect anybody. I'm not trying to show up anybody. That's the way I play, if we like it or not," Contreras said. "I don't care. But I'm here to win. I'm here to play for this team, to go forward with this team. And like I said, I'm loving it here. I think we have a really good group of players that can do a lot of damage, and it’s a long season, and we’re going to be there."
The heart rate didn't lower.
There was the subsequent hard side into San Diego shortstop Xander Bogaerts on Wilyer Abreu's ground out. And then came that final chance against King in the sixth.
It was 93.4 mph coming in, and 108.7 mph going out. And once it did, Contreras was in no rush to let the San Diego starter get to his next batter. A hop. A few steps. A bat flip. One of slowest home run-trotters in the big leagues, didn't disappoint.
First Red Sox homer at Fenway.
A dream come true. pic.twitter.com/j4f0bByvHJ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 3, 2026
It was World Baseball Classic Willson, and the image was not lost on a fan base desperate to be the bullies once again.
"On the challenge, it was a ball for sure. That was my reaction. I didn’t try to show up the umpire, or anything like that. But I took the homer personally, because the first at-bat, it got away from him, and it was close to my face," Contreras said. "If I hit a homer on this one, it’s gonna be a big fly. I’m just glad that we won today, and we need to turn the page and focus on tomorrow."
In Contreras' world, jersey exchanges aren't a priority. For the Red Sox, that's a good thing. For the Red Sox's fans, that's a welcome thing.
"This is the way I play. I wear my emotions under my sleeve, not trying to show up or disrespect anybody," he added. "I think that my emotion makes me better, and I'm just trying to give my team a lot of energy and trying to do the right things for them over 162 games."
