Red Sox’ Willson Contreras offers tearful apology for recent on-field incidents

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Willson Contreras, the mercurial Red Sox slugger who was suspended for seven games Thursday for his involvement in a bench-clearing brawl earlier in the week, offered an emotional apology for his behavior prior to his team’s game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday night.

Contreras had just finished answering questions about being left off the American League All-Star team when he abruptly shifted gears and, in Spanish, continued talking with a Red Sox employee serving as his translator.


“One thing that I want to add, on the record,” began Contreras, “is an apology for all of the events from last week — all of the things that occurred when the Nationals and Yankees (were at Fenway) are things that are very hard. (It was) a very emotional time for me.

“(People) won’t understand why I’m apologizing now, but I think it’s something that’s important for me to do — to apologize because I feel that, it was an emotional time and those situations could have been avoided and controlled and handled better."

Last weekend, a stare-down with New York starter Will Warren resulted in the benches and dugouts clearing, though little happened after that.

In the opening game of the series with the Washington Nationals, Contreras showed his displeasure with a check-swing call by the first base umpire, resulting in a mocking tapping of his helmet and, eventually, his ejection.

But the biggest incident took place Tuesday. After Washington starter Cade Cavalli struck him out, the pitcher shouted, “Sit down, boy,” to which Contreras greatly objected. Benches and dugouts soon cleared and punches and shoving ensued.


Contreras was ejected, along with Nate Eaton and interim manager Chad Tracy. Contreras and Cavalli were suspended seven games and Eaton three on Thursday. All parties involved are appealing the disciplinary measures. Washington pitcher Miles Mikolas was also suspended for five games.

As his words were translated Saturday, there were tears streaming down his face.

“It’s been a really tough week, an emotional week for me,” said Contreras, in apparent reference to the devastation brought about by earthquakes in his native Venezuela. “I hope that (people) understand how emotional it’s been. I’ll prove myself with my actions on the field moving forward and show them the kind of person that I truly am.”

Contreras, who smacked a three-run homer in the first inning in his first plate appearance Saturday night, continues to play for the Sox as he waits for his appeal to be heard. The expectation is that a hearing will come early in the week.

More Red Sox coverage​

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• Red Sox roster moves: Veteran reliever elects free agency after DFA
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