LOS ANGELES -- Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras left Friday’s game against the Dodgers in the third inning after he was hit in the side of the helmet by a pitch from right-hander Will Klein.
Contreras was drilled by a 95.4 mph fastball and took first base after a visit from the medical staff. The hit-by-pitch came after Contreras had to drop to the ground to avoid Klein's high and inside first pitch of the at-bat.
After the game, interim manager Chad Tracy said the catcher was in concussion protocol.
“He’s had some tests done so far which have been fine,” Tracy said. “The caveat to that is with stuff like that with the head, you’re worried about a concussion. You have to let him sleep, he’s got to get up tomorrow, see how he feels in the morning, do activity and that’s the second part of that.
“So good so far, but we have to wait and see how he feels.”
It was the 19th time Contreras was hit by a pitch this season.
“He got hit in the ear flap, so I think his ear was ringing a little bit,” Tracy said.
After the half inning, Nick Sogard moved from second base to first and Anthony Seigler took over at second, batting in Contreras’ spot in the order.
Contreras, who was named an American League All-Star in his first season with the Red Sox, entered Friday’s game batting .289 with a .944 OPS and had 23 home runs with 67 RBIs.