Willson Contreras Apologizes To Nationals For Bat Flip, 'It Was For My Country'
Willson Contreras Apologizes To Nationals For Bat Flip, ‘It Was For My Country’ originally appeared on NESN.
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Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has been playing with a heavy heart this week after earthquakes rocked his home country of Venezuela. More than 50,000 people remain missing as the death toll rises every day.
Contreras has been vocal in his activism for his home country, but has not missed a game since the crisis unfolded.
On Monday night, he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning and launched a 421-foot home run.
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It was a moment he said he prayed to God for. After barreling up the Miles Mikolas pitch, Contreras sent his bat sky high with a two-handed bat flip.
He made sure to tell reporters that he was not trying to show up Mikolas or the Washington Nationals.
“It was nothing against the Nationals. I apologize to them if they felt the bat flip was wrong,” Contreras said. “And to Mikolas. He is a great friend of mine, I don’t think he took it personally. But I apologize to them anyway.
“I was thinking of my country. Thinking of so many kids that have died. So many people that have died. And it’s not easy to be dealing with.”
Mikolas and Contreras were teammates for three years in St. Louis.
Willson Contreras with a powerful postgame scrum 🇻🇪💪
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— NESN (@NESN) June 30, 2026
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