FORT MYERS, FL – – New Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is already making an impression in his first spring training with the team, and not just with his bat. Contreras revealed he received valuable defensive advice from Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, a legend with the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras’ former team.
Contreras, acquired in a trade with St. Louis on , transitioned to first base with the Cardinals last year after spending the first nine years of his Major League Baseball career as a catcher. He proved remarkably adept at the new position, finishing in the 91st percentile in Outs Above Average (6) among MLB first basemen, according to Statcast.
“He appeared a couple of times during my training and explained some angles, some things, and I asked him a lot of questions, and that helped me a lot,” Contreras said, recounting his interactions with Smith.
Smith, nicknamed “The Wizard of Oz” for his exceptional defensive prowess, won 13 Gold Glove Awards during his illustrious career. Contreras emphasized the importance of listening to Smith’s guidance. “You have to listen. If you don’t listen to that guy, you’re playing the wrong sport,” he stated.
The specific advice from Smith centered on maintaining readiness and a balanced stance. “He told me: ‘Stay on your feet. Don’t be left with flat feet. Be ready and ask anything,’” Contreras shared. “But he won 13 Gold Gloves. It was like, ‘Tell me whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.’ Your advice was really helpful.”
Contreras’ comfort level at first base isn’t a recent development. He revealed that the Cubs initially signed him as a third baseman in , giving him a foundation in infield play. “I never had a doubt that I could play first base,” he said.
Despite his success in 2025, Contreras isn’t resting on his laurels. “I think from a baseball player perspective, you’re always trying to improve to get better,” he explained. “And where I am right now, I’m always looking to get better. I’m not a guy that feels OK with the year I had last year. I know it was good, but always looking for more.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora has already identified Contreras as his cleanup hitter, a sign of the faith the team has in his offensive capabilities. Cora made this announcement during the Fenway Fest event in January.
Beyond the on-field adjustments, Contreras is quickly feeling welcomed by his new teammates. He noted that he felt like part of the group from his first day at spring training. “That’s where it all begins. We won in the locker room, then we transferred that from the locker room to the field, and then we played together. We support each other, and it’s going to be fun,” he said.
Cora also believes Contreras will provide important leadership to the Red Sox, particularly given the presence of several other Spanish-speaking players, including four fellow Venezuelans on the roster. The manager highlighted the need for a right-handed hitter of Contreras’ caliber in the lineup and anticipates he will quickly adjust to hitting fourth.
Contreras himself is focused on having quality at-bats. “I think something important for me is just having good at-bats,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where he hits in the lineup. I think we have a very good team from first to ninth, who can support each other, and hitting fourth is good. I think it’s fun. And I’m looking forward to it.”
The Red Sox will be looking for Contreras to build on his strong 2025 performance and provide a potent combination of offense and defense as they aim for contention in the upcoming season.
