William Contreras

William Jesus Contreras, the Milwaukee Brewers’ professional baseball catcher, was born on December 24, 1997, in Venezuela. Prior to joining the Brewers, Contreras had previously suited up for the Atlanta Braves as part of Major League Baseball (MLB). His journey to the MLB was launched in 2015 when he was signed by the Braves organization. After several years in the development system, William Contreras made his major league debut on the Opening Day of the 2020 season.

Contreras embarked on his professional journey in 2015, hitting a promising 0.314 in his debut season with the DSL Braves and accumulating 32 runs batted in (RBIs). His steady performance continued into 2016 when he hit .264 for the GCL Braves, contributing one home run and eight RBIs. His aspiration and commitment led him to play for the Danville Braves in 2017, where he proved himself by hitting .290 and ensuring 25 runners crossed home plate.

Following his success, he split the 2018 season between the Rome Braves and the Florida Fire Frogs. Across the two teams, he maintained an average of .285, launching 11 balls out of the park and securing 49 RBIs. In the following year, Contreras moved between Florida and the Mississippi Braves where he averaged .255, with six home runs and 39 RBIs. In an effort to safeguard Contreras’ potential, the Braves included him on their 40-man roster after the 2019 season, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.

In the unprecedented 2020 season, due to adjustments necessitated by global events, the Braves welcomed Contreras to both spring training and summer camp. On opening day, July 24, 2020, Contreras enjoyed the realization of his professional baseball dreams when he was activated and made his first major league appearance as a backup catcher. The following day, he capitalized on a pinch-hitting opportunity by registering his first career hit and RBI after successfully challenging pitcher Hunter Strickland. By year’s end, Contreras claimed four hits in ten at-bats, including a double.

May 5, 2021, marked another milestone event in William Contreras’ professional baseball journey when the catcher celebrated his first major league home run against the Washington Nationals’ Erick Fedde. That year, Contreras contributed a .215 batting average, eight home runs and 23 RBIs, helping the Braves conquer the 2021 World Series and delivering their first championship since 1995.

In 2022, Contreras was awarded an All-Star honor as an injury replacement for Bryce Harper, a celebrated moment he shared with his brother, Willson Contreras, who concurrently achieved All-Star status. This accomplishment made the Contreras siblings the fifteenth pair of brothers to attain All-Star honors.

However, by the end of that year, the Atlanta Braves made a tough decision to trade Contreras to the Milwaukee Brewers. This trade saw the Brewers receiving Joel Payamps and Justin Yeager, while the Braves acquired Sean Murphy, and the Oakland Athletics added Esteury Ruiz, Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok, Manny Piña, and Royber Salinas to their roster.

After settling into his new team, Contreras continued his exceptional performance. In 2023, he brought home the Silver Slugger Award and was selected for his second All-Star Game in 2024, underscoring his consistent upward trajectory in the MLB.

Off the field, William Contreras is the youngest son of William and Olga Contreras. His passion for baseball is shared by his older brother, Willson Contreras, who has made his mark in the fields of the MLB as a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. This familial baseball legacy continues to be an integral part of Contreras’ identity and competitive spirit. With much more yet to come on Contreras’ horizon, the catcher continues to demonstrate the power and capability of the Contreras name within Major League Baseball.