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Longtime Boston Sportswriter Says Red Sox's Willson Contreras 'Having A Manny Ramirez Season' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Not much has gone right for the Boston Red Sox during the first half of the 2026 MLB season.
The Red Sox are threatening to have one of their worst campaigns in decades, but there have still been some bright spots.
All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman is having another stellar year, despite swirling trade rumors.
Boston's offense has been led by offseason trade acquisition Willson Contreras, and the first baseman hit two more home runs in Sunday night's loss vs. the Texas Rangers to give him 16 for the season.
Contreras leads the Red Sox in home runs, RBIs (43) walks (25), batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.396), slugging percentage (.570), OPS (.965) and total bases (135), while tying outfielder Jarren Duran for the team lead with 34 runs scored.
Longtime Boston sportswriter Chad Finn of The Boston Globe said Monday morning that Contreras' first half reminds him of some of the damage that 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez used to bring to Beantown.
"Seems crazy to say, but in the middle of this Quadruple A Red Sox lineup, Willson Contreras is having a Manny Ramírez season," Finn posted on Bluesky. "Contreras is at .304/.396/.570, with a 171 adjusted OPS. On pace for 37 homers. Manny’s averages, 2001-08: .312/.411/.588, 155 OPS+, 37 homers."
Contreras has not only been the Red Sox's best hitter in 2026 but is on pace to shatter many of his previous career highs across his decade in MLB, which has included three All-Star campaigns.
The 34-year-old posted his best marks in runs scored (70), hits (126), doubles (31), RBI (80) and total bases (219) in 2025 with the St. Louis Cardinals, while his career-high 24 home runs came in 2019.
Contreras' .304/.396/.570 slash line would also be the best of his career, and he's been especially impactful hitting in front of the Fenway Faithful this spring with eight home runs and a .342/.435/.624 triple slash at home.
The former Cardinals and Chicago Cubs slugger has a long way to go reach Man-Ram status, but Red Sox fans couldn't have asked for a better start with their star first baseman.
More MLB: Aroldis Chapman Chasing History: Tracking Red Sox Pitcher's Pursuit of Strikeout Record
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