Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras cast doubt on whether he will be available to play when the American League Wild Card Series starts Tuesday.
Contreras said Thursday that he still can't swing a bat without pain a week after being hit on the right hand by a pitch from Texas Rangers right-hander Jakob Junis.
"I tried to swing yesterday, couldn't swing. I tried to swing today and couldn't swing," Contreras said. "So, we're taking it day by day, putting all my efforts with the trainers on my hand to make it feel better. As of now, I don't think I'm playing tomorrow."
Contreras leads the Red Sox with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs while hitting .276 this season.
"It's frustrating. Being honest, I was hoping to swing today, couldn't swing. I came into my locker, tearing up," Contreras said. "I'm being honest because that's what we play for. We play to play in October. September, October. And it's really frustrating when you're doing the best you can do and you're expecting to heal faster, and it doesn't happen."
The Red Sox will likely face the New York Yankees in the best-of-three AL wild-card round. The series is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary.
"My hand hurts," he said. "I mean when it hurts, it hurts. Especially when it's the top hand. If it was the bottom hand, I could swing with the right hand, but when it's the right hand, my right hand just feels weaker until I let the bat go. It's not a good sign."
