In his first season as a first baseman in 2025, Willson Contreras posted impressive defensive metrics. He was credited with six outs above average, ranking him fourth among all first basemen.
Contreras, obtained by the Red Sox in a December trade with St. Louis, enjoyed the challenge of the new position, but expects more from himself in his second year at first.
“I wouldn’t say that it was easy for me,” said Contreras in a Wednesday Zoom call with the media, “because every position has (its) own secrets. But I accepted the challenge. I took it as a challenge for me and I know that I did my best last year to learn about the position.
“I asked a lot of questions and I talked to some guys who had played there before. Just being willing to listen, being willing to accept tips...that’s one of the things that helped the most. And (putting) my heart in there.”
Contreras had spent the first nine seasons of his career as a catcher before being shifted to first. He made great progress at the new position, but understands that there’s more work to do.
“It’s a really a tricky position,” said Contreras, “because you have to learn the angles, how to get to first base, how far you’re playing (off the bag) with the shift, who’s hitting, who’s fast. So there’s a lot of questions about first base. But like I said, when you’re willing to listen and take tips, everything comes easier.
“Every year’s a new opportunity to keep getting better. Every day’s an opportunity to get better. If you don’t want to get better, I think you need to go away from the game. It’s a game of challenges; it’s a game of failure. You have to deal with that. I’m here for that....I’m not a Gold Glover yet, but I’m working my way (to become one).”
After catching almost exclusively for most of his career, Contreras didn’t spend a single inning behind the plate in 2025. But he made clear that if the Sox need him to fill in at the position, he’d be more than willing.
“They haven’t talked to me about catching at all,” said Contreras, “but if the team needs it down the road and we have an emergency for a day or two of whatever, I’ll do it because I’m a team player first. I wouldn’t say no because I’m not that guy who has an ego and says, ‘Oh no, I got moved to first base; I’m not going to catch anymore.’ No.
“I came here because I know that I can help the team in any way I can to win. If the team needs me down the road for a day or two or three (to catch), I’ll say yes.”
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