| William Contreras | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Contreras with theAtlanta Braves in 2022 | |
| Milwaukee Brewers – No. 24 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: (1997-12-24)December 24, 1997 (age 27) Puerto Cabello,Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 24, 2020, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .273 |
| Home runs | 85 |
| Runs batted in | 315 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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William Jesus Contreras (born December 24, 1997) is aVenezuelan professionalbaseballcatcher for theMilwaukee Brewers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theAtlanta Braves.
Contreras signed with the Braves organization in 2015 and made his major league debut onOpening Day in 2020. Contreras was a member of the2021 World Series champions and was named anAll-Star in 2022. The Braves traded Contreras to the Brewers after the 2022 season, where he was awarded theSilver Slugger Award twice in 2023 and 2024 and named to his second All-Star Game in 2024.
Contreras signed with theAtlanta Braves as an international free agent in February 2015.[1] He made his professional debut with theDSL Braves in 2015, hitting .314/.370/.413/.783 with 32runs batted in (RBIs). He played for theGCL Braves in 2016 and hit .264/.346/.375/.721 with onehome run and eight RBIs.[2]
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Contreras played for theDanville Braves in 2017, hitting .290/.379/.432/.811 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. He split the 2018 season between theRome Braves and theFlorida Fire Frogs, hitting a combined .285/.347/.436/.783 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs.[3][4] He split the 2019 season between Florida and theMississippi Braves, hitting a combined .255/.315/.354/.669 with 6 home runs and 39 RBIs.[5][6]
The Braves added Contreras to their40 man roster following the 2019 season to protect him from being eligible in theRule 5 draft.[7] He was invited to the regularly held 2020 spring training,[8] as well as summer camp, held prior to opening day of the shortenend 2020 season.[9] Contreras was activated on July 24, 2020,[10] and made his major league debut that day as a backup catcher.[11] His first career hit and run batted in came as a pinch-hitter the next day, while facingHunter Strickland.[11][12] In 2020 he was four-for-ten with a double and an RBI.[13]
On May 5, 2021, Contreras hit his first career home run againstWashington Nationals pitcherErick Fedde.[14] He split the 2021 between Gwinnett and Atlanta.[15] While in the majors, he batted .215/.303/.399 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs.[13] The Braves finished with an 88–73 record, clinching the NL East, and eventually won the 2021 World Series, giving the Braves their first title since 1995.[16]
Contreras made the Atlanta Braves' 2022 Opening Day roster as a backup catcher,[17][18] and again split the year between Atlanta and Gwinnett,[19] where he was expected to improve his skills as a catcher.[20] Contreras was named to the2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as an injury replacement for designated hitterBryce Harper. William and his brother Willson became the fifteenth pair of brothers to be selected to aAll-Star Game.[21]
On December 12, 2022, the Braves sent Contreras to theMilwaukee Brewers in a three-team trade in which the Braves acquiredSean Murphy, the Brewers also acquiredJoel Payamps andJustin Yeager, and theOakland Athletics acquiredEsteury Ruiz,Kyle Muller,Freddy Tarnok,Manny Piña, andRoyber Salinas.[22]
In 2023, Contreras played 141 games, batting .289/.367/.457 with an OPS of .825.[23] His defense at catcher improved significantly, and he won a silver slugger award at the end of the season.
In 2024, Contreras played in 155 games, batting .281/.365/.466 with an OPS of .831.[24] Despite his defense at catcher regressing slightly, he raised hisWAR rating (wins above replacement) in 2024 (4.9) over his 2023 rating (3.8).
In 2025, Contreras played in 150 games, batting .260/.355/.399 with an OPS of .754. He also hit 17 home runs and scored 76 RBIs.[25]The Brewers finished with a 97–65 record, clinching the NL Central and home-field advantage in the playoffs.[26][27]
William Contreras is the youngest son of William and Olga Contreras.[28] His older brother,Willson, has also played as a catcher and currently plays for theSt. Louis Cardinals as adesignated hitter and/or first baseman.[29]
