Willson Contreras Just Showed Red Sox Fans Why He Belongs in Boston

Willson Contreras may not have been every Boston Red Sox fan's dream acquisition this past offseason, but he's quickly showing why he was a worthwhile pickup nonetheless.

In the Red Sox's first series win of the season, Contreras rallied the troops by engaging the Milwaukee Brewers in a war of words. It seemed the pitching staff was the part of the roster that took the wake-up call to heart, and Boston shut down the Milwaukee offense for the next two days.

But Contreras wasn't just a nice addition because of his consistent bat and the edge he plays with. He's quickly proving that he has the right mindset to fit right in with the winning culture that Boston needs -- and has had in the past.

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Contreras appreciates Red Sox history

After the Red Sox's first win at Fenway Park last week, Contreras gave his early perspective on what it means to him to wear a Red Sox uniform.

“I feel like a Hall of Famer just walking into this clubhouse and playing at home in Boston, where so many Hall of Famers played here,” Contreras said, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. “It’s really special, and that brings a little extra energy. But you have to do a great job keeping your composure, playing for the team, doing the small things. I’m just loving it here.”

With the perspective the rest of the homestand brought, one could quickly see that Contreras felt a responsibility to provide a spark for this club. He saw a 2-8 team that wasn't putting out a product worthy of all the great Red Sox teams that had come before it, so he sprung into action.

Contreras' defense, bat have been a perfect fit so far

As of Thursday, Contreras led all first basemen with two defensive runs saved. He's already shaken off a slow start at the plate to raise his OPS to .859 through 12 games, and he may well be the only Red Sox player with a shot to appear in all 162 games this season, with the way manager Alex Cora is juggling the outfield.

Will Contreras be the best bat on a championship team? Perhaps not, but if he can be the second- or third-best, the Red Sox should benefit from all the other traits he's bringing to the table.