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Red Sox find lucky charm in video game character during hot streak
🇵🇦 Panama /Sports

Red Sox find lucky charm in video game character during hot streak

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • The Boston Red Sox have added Bowser, a Super Mario Bros. character, to their clubhouse as a lucky charm.
  • Acquired by player Jarren Duran, Bowser travels with the team and has been given game-worn jerseys.
  • The team is currently on a hot streak, holding MLB's best record at 46-23 since Bowser's arrival.

The Boston Red Sox are riding high with MLB's best record of 46-23, and they credit some of their success to an unlikely clubhouse addition: Bowser, the iconic villain from Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise.

We wanted to give it to him and it just ended up becoming a kind of team mascot.

— Jarren DuranExplaining how the Bowser figure became the team's mascot.

What started as a playful nickname for catcher Willson Contreras has evolved into a team mascot. Contreras, who resembles Bowser, was given the moniker by teammate Trevor Story. Now, the foot-tall figure travels with the team, often found in the laundry cart or resting on clubhouse tables before games.

Bowser's presence has become a ritual. After a player is named "Player of the Game," the Bowser figure is placed in their locker. Contreras even had a custom Bowser jersey made, featuring his number 40, which he wore during the Home Run Derby festivities. He emphasized the importance of team chemistry and finding ways to connect, stating, "It is very important to maintain the chemistry within the team. To find ways to connect with each other. And to always be present for each other."

It is very important to maintain the chemistry within the team. To find ways to connect with each other. And to always be present for each other.

— Willson ContrerasDiscussing the importance of team traditions and connection.

The team's enthusiasm for Bowser extends to celebrating clutch hits. When a player delivers a game-winning hit, their jersey is often torn off and added to Bowser's collection. Duran explained, "Every time we connect a golden hit, we add the jersey to it. My jersey is there, [Caleb] Durbin's jersey is there, and now [Wilyer Abreu]'s jersey is there. So right now he has like three jerseys on."

Every time we connect a golden hit, we add the jersey to it. My jersey is there, [Caleb] Durbin's jersey is there, and now [Wilyer Abreu]'s jersey is there. So right now he has like three jerseys on.

— Jarren DuranDescribing the tradition of adding game-worn jerseys to the Bowser figure.

These jerseys, often ripped during walk-off wins, are then added to Bowser's attire. This tradition has become a fun and unifying element for the Red Sox, contributing to the positive atmosphere as they continue their impressive season.

Those jerseys always get torn when we leave the opponent on the field. So we just add them to Bowser and they travel with us.

— Jarren DuranFurther explaining the fate of jerseys after game-winning hits.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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