CHICAGO – Showing more thump than at any other point in his career, Red Sox cleanup hitter Willson Contreras has accepted MLB’s invitation to be a participant in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
With a right-handed swing tailor made for Fenway Park, Contreras has 20 homers in 306 at-bats, just shy of the career high of 24 he belted for the Cubs in 2019.
2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby: July 13, 8 p.m. ET
• Set a reminder on Netflix (coverage begins 7 p.m. ET)
• Derby participants
• FAQ, including updated format
• Every team’s best HR Derby performance
• All-time Derby winners
The Derby will be held on Monday at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park and will air live at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix.
On that stage, Contreras will attempt to become the second player in Red Sox history to win a Home Run Derby, and first since the legendary David Ortiz in 2010 at Anaheim.
This will be the first career Derby appearance for Contreras.
]“They asked me if I was willing to participate, and it’s something that I always wanted to do,” said Contreras. “I've done it before in Venezuela [in the winter]. And I always wanted to at least participate in one in MLB, and I'm really excited to get the opportunity. I'm looking forward to having fun and hopefully putting on a good show.”
While sitting in the clubhouse prior to Wednesday’s game against the White Sox, Contreras FaceTimed his younger brother and fellow All-Star William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers and asked if he would consider being his pitcher in the Derby.
“He told me, ‘No, no, I can’t do that.’ I would have been excited, but I understand it's probably a high-pressure situation, and to throw BP is not easy,” said Willson Contreras. “But I wanted him to throw to me.”
Fortunately, Contreras has a strong second option in Red Sox interim bench coach José David Flores, who regularly throws batting practice to Boston’s right-handed-hitting slugger.
As a kid in Venezuela who dreamed of reaching the Major Leagues, Contreras has a lot of strong memories of watching the Home Run Derby on television.
“Man, I remember Bobby Abreu hitting 24 homers in a round [in 2005 in Detroit,” said Contreras. “I remember Josh Hamilton hitting 28, I think, [at Yankee Stadium in '08].”
Until he was traded to the Red Sox back in December, Contreras was a lifetime National Leaguer, so he knows all about how homer-friendly Citizens Bank Park can be.
“I think Philadelphia is a good stadium to hit. The ball carries a lot, and the key for me in the Home Run Derby is not trying to do too much or trying to hit it a long way. I already have a plan on what to do, “ said Contreras. “Hopefully it works out.”
And if he can win, all the better.
“Everybody that's going to compete, they're trying to win,” Contreras said. “My mindset is trying to win, but if it doesn't happen, at least I'm going to have fun. That’s my take, but I'm super excited, a little bit nervous, I won't lie, but I think it's going to be fun.”
It has been a whirlwind couple of days for Contreras, who was added to the AL All-Star team on Tuesday as a replacement for Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
“It's awesome,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “I always watch the Derby, but I'll make sure I'm very much tuned into the Derby now.”
This the fourth All-Star appearance for Contreras and first since 2022.
In his second full season as a full-time first baseman, the former catcher has thrived offensively with the chance to get more at-bats and with less physical strain on him every day.
At 34 years old, Contreras has delivered in his first season in Boston. His .926 OPS entering Wednesday is on pace to be a career high and ranks third among AL first basemen, while his .287 average was best among that group.
While the Green Monster is clearly a good fit for Contreras, as evidenced by his .983 OPS at home, his homers have been equally distributed this season between home and the road.