Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras gets deserving All-Star news

Jun 29, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) bats against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox haven't had a great 2026 season, but they have some fantastic individual performers who are deserving of All-Star spots.

Ranger Suarez and Aroldis Chapman already earned spots on the AL All-Star team, but there were a few very notable snubs, with Sonny Gray one and Willson Contreras the other.

Fortunately, Contreras's snub didn't last very long, as only a few days after All-Star rosters were announced, the Red Sox announced that Contreras was an All-Star substitution.

Red Sox get exciting Willson Contreras All-Star news

"Another rep in Philly... Willson Contreras has been added to the AL All-Star team!" the Red Sox announced Tuesday.

Contreras is very deserving of an All-Star spot and was a major snub by the fan vote and the reserves. Fortunately, he's now made the All-Star team as a replacement for Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who did not deserve his spot.

This season for the Red Sox, Contreras has a .284 batting average with 20 homers, 59 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 87 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, and a .920 OPS.

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Guerrero got in through the fan vote and wasn't close to deserving his spot. He has a .263 batting average with four homers and 35 RBIs this season with a .693 OPS. He didn't deserve his All-Star spot over Contreras, and now the Red Sox slugger is taking his spot.

There's no question Contreras has been one of the best hitters in baseball this year, and his lack of an All-Star nod in the first announcement was very disappointing.

But, even though he's a replacement, and not a starter or a typical reserve All-Star, Contreras still has more than earned this All-Star nod.

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