Willson Contreras

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/Outfielder
Born: (1992-05-13) May 13, 1992
Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 17, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .282
Home runs 12
Runs batted in 35
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Willson Eduardo Contreras (born May 13, 1992) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher and outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He stands at 6'1.

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.[1][2] He was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year in 2015 after batting .333/.413/.478 with eight home runs.[3][4] During his minor league career, he played the positions of catcher, first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field.[5] The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[6]

Contreras was rated 57th on Baseball Prospectus' top 101 prospect list prior to the 2016 season.[7]

Chicago Cubs

He was promoted to the Cubs major league team on June 17, 2016, playing catcher.[8] 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.[9] In his fifth game, he started at the first base position,[10] and started in left field in his eighth game, making him a very versatile player. [11]

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 5. 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.[12] The Cubs won the 2016 World Series over the Cleveland Indians, giving the Cubs their first championship in 108 years.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Adam Greene. "Smokies' catcher Willson Contreres honors family by playing the right way - News Sentinel Story". KNS. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Willson Contreras emerges as Cubs best catching prospect". chicagonow.com. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ News Sentinel staff. "Willson Contreras, Ryan Williams top Cubs' minor leaguers - News Sentinel Story". KNS. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ Associated Press (24 June 2016). "2 key hits by Giancarlo Stanton help Marlins beat Cubs 4-2". ESPN. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Cubs make roster moves for Rule 5 Draft". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Baseball Prospectus - Prospectus Feature: The Top 101 Prospects of 2016, With Write-Ups". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Cubs call up top prospect, catcher Contreras". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs - Box Score - June 19, 2016 - ESPN". Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Cubs' Anthony Rizzo sits out loss with back stiffness". ESPN. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Associated Press (25 June 2016). "Bour and Stanton each drive in 3, Marlins top Cubs 9-6". ESPN. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Chris Haft and Carrie Muskat (11 October 2016). "Cubs deliver Giant stunner, advance to NLCS". MLB. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Bastian, Jordan; Muskat, Carrie. "Chicago Cubs win 2016 World Series". MLB. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
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