Willson Contreras will swing for the Boston Red Sox in the 2026 Home Run Derby, aiming to end a 25-year drought for the franchise. No Red Sox player has won the event since 1999.
Contreras joins a field set for Globe Life Field. He is the first Boston catcher to participate since Jason Varitek in 2005.
The Red Sox have sent 12 hitters to the Derby since 1999. None advanced past the second round. Manny Ramirez (2001, 2004), David Ortiz (2006), and J.D. Drew (2008) all failed to reach the final.
Here is a breakdown of every Boston participant since 1999:
| Year | Player | Result | Home Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nomar Garciaparra | Winner | 12 (final) |
| 2001 | Manny Ramirez | Round 1 | 6 |
| 2004 | Manny Ramirez | Round 1 | 7 |
| 2005 | Jason Varitek | Round 1 | 5 |
| 2006 | David Ortiz | Round 1 | 10 |
| 2008 | J.D. Drew | Round 1 | 6 |
| 2010 | David Ortiz | Round 1 | 8 |
| 2011 | Adrian Gonzalez | Round 1 | 9 |
| 2016 | Mookie Betts | Round 1 | 10 |
| 2018 | J.D. Martinez | Round 2 | 16 |
| 2021 | Rafael Devers | Round 1 | 11 |
| 2023 | Rafael Devers | Round 1 | 12 |
Contreras brings a different power profile. In 2025, he posted a .512 slugging percentage with 32 home runs. His average exit velocity ranked in the 85th percentile. His barrel rate was 14.2%.
The key variable is Jose Flores. Flores, a Red Sox bullpen catcher, will pitch to Contreras. Flores has worked daily with Contreras since spring training. His throwing style delivers consistent location at 78 mph, replicating a Derby rhythm.
Past Red Sox Derby pitchers varied. Moises Alou pitched to Manny Ramirez in 2004. Jose Bautista pitched for David Ortiz in 2010. Flores is the first dedicated bullpen catcher assigned to a Red Sox participant since 1998.
“Flores knows my swing,” Contreras told reporters. “He throws the same spot every time. That’s all I need.”
Contreras’s path to the final is not guaranteed. Pete Alonso, a two-time winner, will compete. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kyle Schwarber are also in the field. The bracket format at Globe Life Field favors hitters who can sustain power for four minutes.
Fan reaction has been muted but hopeful. Red Sox social media accounts posted a 12-second clip of Contreras hitting batting practice with Flores. It received 340,000 views in 12 hours. Season ticket holders surveyed by the team cited the Derby as a “potential turning point” for the second-half schedule.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: When is the last time a Red Sox player won the Home Run Derby?
- A: The last Red Sox player to win the Home Run Derby was Nomar Garciaparra in 1999, marking a 25-year drought for the franchise.
- Q: How many Red Sox players have participated in the Home Run Derby since 1999?
- A: Since 1999, the Red Sox have sent 12 hitters to the Derby. None advanced past the second round.
- Q: What makes Willson Contreras a unique candidate for the Red Sox?
- A: Contreras is the first Boston catcher to participate since Jason Varitek in 2005 and brings a powerful profile with a .512 slugging percentage and 32 home runs in 2025.
Extended Reading
MLB.com confirmed Contreras’s participation on June 15. NESN reported Flores’s role on June 16. Yahoo Sports published a historical comparison of Boston’s Derby performances on June 17.