Jump to content

Willson Contreras

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by ParkerLyme (talk | contribs) at 17:18, 28 August 2022. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the baseball player. For the Chilean footballer, see Wilson Contreras.

Willson Contreras
Contreras with the Chicago Cubs in 2016
Chicago Cubs – No. 40
Catcher
Born: (1992-05-13) May 13, 1992 (age 32)
Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 17, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through August 27, 2022)
Batting average.257
Home runs115
Runs batted in362
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Willson Eduardo Contreras (born May 13, 1992) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2016 and was a member of the 2016 World Series champions. Contreras was voted as a starter in the MLB All-Star Game in 2018, 2019, and 2022.

Early life

Contreras was born on May 13, 1992, in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela,[1] to Olga and William Contreras.[2] He was the middle child of three, with an older brother, Willmer, and a younger brother, William.[3] Willson and William would play baseball in the street as children by using a crumpled piece of paper as a ball.[4] At the age of 16, Contreras began attending a baseball academy in Venezuela run by the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).[3][4]

Career

Minors

Contreras signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2009. He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Cubs that year. He batted .205 in 29 games at age 17. In 2010, he batted .313 in 17 games at age 18 with them. In 2011 and 2012 he played with the Boise Hawks. Contreras spent 2013 with the Kane County Cougars, 2014 with the Daytona Cubs, and 2015 with the Tennessee Smokies.[5][6] He was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year in 2015 after batting .333/.413/.478 with eight home runs.[7][8] During his minor league career, he played the positions of catcher, first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field.[9] The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[10]

Contreras was rated 57th on Baseball Prospectus' top 101 prospect list prior to the 2016 season.[11]

Chicago Cubs

2016 season

He was promoted to the Cubs major league team on June 17, 2016, playing catcher.[12] On June 19, he hit a two-run home run on the first pitch of his first major-league at-bat after two pick-off attempts by the pitcher to first base, becoming the 30th player in the modern MLB era to do so.[13] In his fifth game, he started at the first base position,[14] and started in left field in his eighth game, establishing himself as a versatile player on the field.[15] Contreras finished the 2016 regular season with 80 hits in 295 at-bats with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs and a .275 batting average.

In Game 4 of the 2016 National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants with the Cubs having a 2–1 series lead, Contreras had a pinch-hit two-run single in the top of the ninth inning, tying the score at five. Contreras was forced at second by a Jason Heyward bunt but the Cubs scored the go-ahead run later that inning, sending them to the National League Championship Series.[16] The Cubs won the 2016 World Series over the Cleveland Indians, giving the Cubs their first championship in 108 years. Contreras drove in a run with a double in the seventh game.[17]

2017 season

On April 2, 2017, Contreras was the Cubs' opening day starting catcher against the St. Louis Cardinals. After hitting five home runs in six games, he was selected as the National League's Player of the Week on August 8. On August 9, Contreras suffered a moderate hamstring strain while running to first base against the San Francisco Giants.[18] At the time of the injury he was batting .274 with 93 hits in 339 at bats, hit 21 home runs and had 70 RBIs.[19] Willson returned from the injury on September 10 as a pinch hitter. On September 15, 2017, Contreras was ejected and suspended one game for throwing his mask, which bounced and hit umpire Jordan Baker in the shins.[20] In 377 at-bats, Contreras finished the season with a .276 batting average, 104 hits, 21 home runs, five stolen bases and 74 RBIs.

Contreras chose "Willy" as his nickname for the Players Weekend for the 2017 season;[21] however, Jon Lester and pitching coach Chris Bosio gave him the nickname "Killer".[22]

On October 18, 2017, in Game Four of the NLCS, Contreras hit the longest postseason home run, at 491 feet (150 m), since Statcast started recording such data in 2015.[23]

2018 season

Contreras at the 2018 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby

Batting .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs,[24] Contreras was voted to start in the 2018 All-Star Game, his first All-Star appearance. He finished his 2018 campaign batting .249 with ten home runs and 54 RBIs in 138 games.

2019 season

Contreras had a fast start to the 2019 season, batting .315 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.069 into mid-May.[25] On May 11, he had his first career walk-off hit, a solo shot off the Milwaukee Brewers' Burch Smith, ending a 15-inning marathon.[26] Contreras and teammate Javier Baez were named starters for the National League in the 2019 All-Star game, but neither registered a hit.[27] On August 3, Contreras strained his hamstring running to first base and was put on the 10-day injured list.[28] He finished the 2019 season slashing .272/.355/.533 with 24 home runs and 64 RBIs over 105 games.[29]

2020 season

In the shortened 60-game season in 2020, Contreras played in 57 games with a batting line of .243/.356/.407 to go along with seven home runs and 26 RBI.[30]

2021 season

In 2021, Contreras slashed .237/.340/.438 with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs in 128 games. He also caught the first combined no-hitter in Cubs history against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24.

Personal life

Contreras's younger brother, William Contreras, is a catcher for the Atlanta Braves.[31][32] Contreras married Andrea Villamizar on May 3, 2018.[33] Contreras is a supporter of the Venezuelan opposition and Juan Guaidó.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Willson Contreras Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Hine, Chris (September 27, 2016). "Willson Contreras keeps his parents on his mind while playing for the Cubs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Wittenmyer, Gordon (June 15, 2019). "'Family, the situation in Venezuela, baseball'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Birch, Tommy (May 30, 2016). "Willson Contreras' journey to the big leagues close to complete". Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  5. ^ Adam Greene. "Smokies' catcher Willson Contreres honors family by playing the right way - News Sentinel Story". KNS. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "Willson Contreras emerges as Cubs best catching prospect". chicagonow.com. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  7. ^ News Sentinel staff. "Willson Contreras, Ryan Williams top Cubs' minor leaguers - News Sentinel Story". KNS. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Cubs name catcher Willson Contreras and right-handed pitcher Ryan Williams Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year". Major League Baseball. September 21, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "2 key hits by Giancarlo Stanton help Marlins beat Cubs 4-2". ESPN. Associated Press. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  10. ^ "Cubs make roster moves for Rule 5 Draft". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "Baseball Prospectus - Prospectus Feature: The Top 101 Prospects of 2016, With Write-Ups". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "Cubs call up top prospect, catcher Contreras". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs - Box Score - June 19, 2016 - ESPN". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Cubs' Anthony Rizzo sits out loss with back stiffness". ESPN. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  15. ^ "Bour and Stanton each drive in 3, Marlins top Cubs 9-6". ESPN. Associated Press. June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  16. ^ Chris Haft and Carrie Muskat (October 11, 2016). "Cubs deliver Giant stunner, advance to NLCS". MLB. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  17. ^ Bastian, Jordan; Muskat, Carrie. "Chicago Cubs win 2016 World Series". MLB. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  18. ^ Lancaster, Marc. "Willson Contreras injury update". www.sportingnews.com/mlb. The Sporting News. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  19. ^ "Willson Contreras". mlb.com/player. MLB. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  20. ^ "Ban of Cubs' Contreras reduced to one game". ESPN.com. September 17, 2017.
  21. ^ Wire, Sun-Times (August 10, 2017). "MLB Players Weekend to showcase unique nicknames, colorful uniforms". Chicago Sun-Times.
  22. ^ Sullivan, Paul. "What's in a nickname? Too bad baseball can't ask Shakespeare".
  23. ^ DiCoMo, Anthony. "Contreras hits HR off scoreboard to ignite Cubs". m.mlb.com. MLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  24. ^ "Javy Baez, Willson Contreras and Jon Lester named All-Stars". 247Sports.
  25. ^ "Willson Contreras Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  26. ^ Neveau, James (May 11, 2019). "Cubs Win on Willson Contreras Walk-Off Home Run in Extra Inning Thriller – NBC Chicago". Nbcchicago.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  27. ^ "Contreras, Baez named All-Star Game starters". MLB.com.
  28. ^ Weinstein, Arthur (August 4, 2019). "Willson Contreras injury update: Cubs catcher goes on 10-day IL with hamstring injury". Sporting News. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  29. ^ "Cubs 2020 roster outlook: Willson Contreras' health is critical to team's success | RSN". Nbcsports.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Being able to 'de-throttle' is helping Willson Contreras become the best version of himself". Chicago Sun-Times. March 18, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  31. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "'Special' time shared by Cubs' Willson Contreras and family".
  32. ^ "Cubs' Willson Contreras and girlfriend engaged". WGN-TV. February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  33. ^ "Willson Contreras gets married Thursday". Cubs HQ. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  34. ^ Wittenmyer, Gordon (June 15, 2019). "Willson Contreras keeps focus on what matters: 'Family, the situation in Venezuela, baseball'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 8, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Willson Contreras.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willson_Contreras&oldid=1107188346"