In a tough break for the Red Sox, first baseman Willson Contreras was forced to exit Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Rays early after taking a pitch to his right hand. The injury occurred in the bottom of the first inning, and while Contreras initially stayed in the game following a trainer's check, he did not return to the field for the top of the second.

Interim manager Chad Tracy provided an update after the game, noting that initial scans came back negative—a positive sign for the veteran. "Sore. That's all we know at this point," Tracy said. "We're just obviously going to have an off day tomorrow and that helps a lot. And then we'll kind of reevaluate him tomorrow and the next day and see how he feels. Hopefully, we're OK there."

Andruw Monasterio stepped in to replace Contreras at first base for the remainder of the game.

This isn't unfamiliar territory for Contreras, who has a reputation for crowding the plate. In fact, he's tied for the MLB lead this season with eight hit-by-pitches, and he finished third in the majors last year with 23 while playing for the Cardinals. Over his career, the 33-year-old has been plunked 137 times, including a career-high 24 in 2022 with the Cubs.

Before the injury, Contreras was enjoying a solid season at the plate. Through 39 games and 166 plate appearances, he's batting .259 with a .380 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage, and an .847 OPS. He's also contributed eight home runs, four doubles, and 23 RBIs.

With an off day Monday, the Red Sox will have some time to assess Contreras's condition before their next series. For now, the team is hopeful that the pain will subside and he'll be back in the lineup soon, continuing to provide that powerful presence in the middle of the order.