​CHICAGO — In a span of just a few minutes on Wednesday, during the third inning, the Red Sox watched not one but two members of their starting lineup leave the game due to injuries. First, second baseman Anthony Seigler exited after a frightening collision at home plate, suffering a right trapezius contusion. Not long after, first baseman Willson Contreras, who had already fouled a pitch off his left instep in the top half of the inning but remained in the game, aggravated the injury while at first base and then hobbled off the field. In an instant, the left side of Boston’s infield was suddenly depleted.
Yet, the injuries do not appear to be serious, at least based on early notes from the dugout. Interim manager Chad Tracy provided an encouraging update after the Red Sox secured their fifth consecutive win, a 5-0 shutout of the Chicago White Sox. “They’re doing OK,” Tracy said. “Willson, when he got inside the clubhouse, was able to put weight on it and move around a lot better. So that’s good. Seigler had a bruised trap. He got hung up and slammed in his neck. He described it as almost like a stinger in football, so both of them are doing better now, and we’ll see how they come in (Thursday).”
The team’s offense has also been a bright spot, with Contreras continuing to swing a hot bat. He has been the Red Sox’s best hitter all season and has produced eight RBIs over the last three games. Despite the discomfort, Contreras considered his status day-to-day and was hopeful for a quick recovery. “I’m not concerned about anything worse than a bruise,” he said. “We’ll see how I feel tomorrow when I wake up.” After fouling the ball off his shoetop, he initially felt numb in the area. He attempted to remain in the game, but when he went to cover first base in the bottom of the inning, the pain intensified. “I took my time to get back on the field to give it some extra time to feel better,” he explained. “But on the first ground ball, the pain was worse. When I’m in pain, that’s the only thing that makes me come off the field. I wanted to take care of it right away and not extend it.”
Seigler received treatment after the game and spoke to reporters only briefly, citing ongoing evaluation rather than immediate conclusions about his condition. The team is hopeful that the left side of the infield will remain intact for the next day’s action.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox will gain a notable return for Thursday’s game: Nate Eaton will be back in the lineup. Eaton completed his two-game suspension on Wednesday night for his involvement in last week’s brawl and will be eligible to play on Thursday, restoring the team to a full compliment of 26 available players. The timing could not be more favorable as Boston looks to capitalize on its improving form and tighten its grip on the series with the White Sox.
Overall, the mood around the club remained positive despite the injuries. The coaching staff and players emphasized the importance of taking precaution and ensuring proper recovery, with the optimism that the left side of the infield will be reinforced by steady updates from the training staff. The next steps will be clarified as Thursday’s session approaches, and the Red Sox will monitor Seigler’s trapezius and Contreras’s bruising while welcoming Eaton back to bolster depth and maintain the momentum of a team that has found a rhythm in recent weeks.