Why Red Sox’s Willson Contreras was removed from White Sox game

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras exited Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox after just four innings. The change came in the top of the fifth inning at Fenway Park with Boston leading 2-0.

“He’s a little under the weather,” interim manager Chad Tracy said following the Red Sox’s 4-0 win. “Feeling a little sick and then we took some temperatures as the game was going. Temperature started to go up. He started to get a little dizzy so we thought it was best to get him out of there.”

Following Contreras’ departure, Nick Sogard shifted from second base to first base, while Anthony Seigler entered the game at second base and took over the cleanup spot in the batting order.

Before leaving, Contreras contributed on both sides of the ball. He gave Boston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first inning and later drew a walk against White Sox starter Sean Burke in the third. Defensively, he helped prevent a run in the third inning after Caleb Durbin made a diving stop and throw across the diamond on Miguel Vargas’ infield single. Contreras stepped off first base, received the throw, and quickly fired home to retire Sam Antonacci, who attempted to score from second base.

The early exit was the second time in less than a week that Contreras had left a game before its conclusion. Last Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he exited after being struck in the head by a 95 mph pitch from Will Klein. He missed the following day’s game while undergoing concussion testing before returning Sunday and remaining in the lineup for Tuesday’s win over Chicago.

Contreras has been one of the Red Sox’s most consistent players during his first season with the team since arriving in an offseason trade from the St. Louis Cardinals. After moving from catcher to first base before the 2025 season, he has continued to produce at the plate. Through 105 games, he owns a .288 batting average, .395 on-base percentage, .540 slugging percentage and a .931 OPS, along with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs. He has started 103 of Boston’s first 113 games at first base, made one start at designated hitter, and earned an American League All-Star selection.

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