| Willson Contreras | |
|---|---|
 Contreras with theSt. Louis Cardinals in 2023 | |
| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 40 | |
| First baseman /Catcher | |
| Born: (1992-05-13)May 13, 1992 (age 33) Puerto Cabello,Carabobo,Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 17, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 172 |
| Runs batted in | 548 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Willson Eduardo Contreras (born May 13, 1992) is a Venezuelan professionalbaseballfirst baseman andcatcher for theSt. Louis Cardinals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theChicago Cubs.
Contreras made his MLB debut in 2016 and was a member of the2016 World Series champions. Contreras was voted as a starter in theMLB All-Star Game in 2018, 2019, and 2022. He signed with the Cardinals as afree agent after the 2022 season.
Contreras was born on May 13, 1992, inPuerto 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 theChicago Cubs ofMajor League Baseball (MLB).[3][4]
Contreras signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2009. He made his professional debut with theDominican 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 theBoise Hawks. Contreras spent 2013 with theKane County Cougars, 2014 with theDaytona Cubs, and 2015 with theTennessee Smokies.[5][6] He was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year in 2015 after batting .333/.413/.478 with eighthome 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 onBaseball Prospectus' top 101 prospect list prior to the 2016 season.[11]
The Cubs promoted Contreras to the major league team on June 17, 2016.[12] On June 19, he hit a two-run home run on thefirst pitch of his first major-league at-bat after two pick-off attempts byA. J. Schugel 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 the2016 National League Division Series against theSan 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 aJason Heyward bunt but the Cubs scored the go-ahead run later that inning, sending them to theNational League Championship Series.[16] The Cubs won the2016 World Series over theCleveland Indians, giving the Cubs their first championship in 108 years. Contreras drove in a run with a double in the seventh game.[17]
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 umpireJordan 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.
On October 18, 2017, in Game Four of the NLCS, Contreras hit the longest postseason home run, at 491 feet (150 m), sinceStatcast started recording such data in 2015.[21]
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Batting .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs,[22] Contreras was voted to start in the2018 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.
Contreras had a fast start to the 2019 season, batting .315 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.069 into mid-May.[23] On May 11, he had his first career walk-off hit, a solo shot off theMilwaukee Brewers'Burch Smith, ending a 15-inning marathon.[24] Contreras and teammateJavier Baez were named starters for the National League in the2019 All-Star game, but neither registered a hit.[25] On August 3, Contreras strained hishamstring running to first base and was put on the 10-dayinjured list.[26] He finished the 2019 season slashing .272/.355/.533 with 24 home runs and 64 RBIs over 105 games.[27]
In theshortened 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.[28]
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 theLos Angeles Dodgers on June 24.
On May 16, 2022, Contreras hit a grand slam off ofPittsburgh Pirates starterBryse Wilson, with the blast marking his 100th career home run.[29] In 2022, Contreras put up a slash of .243/.349/.466 alongside 55 RBIs and 22 home runs. He was selected to participate in the2022 MLB All Star Game alongside his brother,William Contreras, becoming just the fifth pair of brothers to play in the same All Star Game in baseball history.[30]
On December 9, 2022, Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with theSt. Louis Cardinals.[31] On May 6, 2023, the Cardinals announced that Contreras would begin to see less time at catcher and more time atdesignated hitter and in theoutfield.[32] The decision was made at the request of the Cardinals' starting pitchers who attributed their poor performance to Contreras and told management that they no longer wanted to pitch to him.[33] He returned to catching duties on May 15, when he was the starting catcher in aJack Flaherty start against theMilwaukee Brewers.[34] Contreras finished the season with a .264 batting average, 20 home runs and 67 RBIs in 125 games.
On May 7, 2024, Contreras' left forearm was fractured during a game when he was hit by a swing byNew York Mets outfielderJ. D. Martinez. Contreras told reporters he will need surgery and will miss at least six weeks.[35] In 84 games for St. Louis in 2024, he slashed .262/.380/.468 with 15 home runs and 36 RBI. Following the season, president of baseball operationsJohn Mozeliak announced that Contreras would be moving to first base on a permanent basis.[36]
Contreras played his 1,000th career game on June 5,2025, against theKansas City Royals, when he hit a game-winning single to bringLars Nootbaar for the winning run to defeat the Royals 6–5 in extra innings. It was the third career walk-off hit of his career and his first as a Cardinal; he also recorded the 500th RBI of his career.[37] Contreras made 135 appearances for St. Louis, slashing .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. On September 17, Contreras was placed on the injured list due to a right shoulder strain, ending his season.[38]
Contreras's younger brother,William Contreras, is also a catcher in MLB.[39][40] Contreras married Andrea Villamizar on May 3, 2018.[41] Contreras is a supporter of the Venezuelan opposition andJuan Guaidó.[3]
