Even if 'enemies' on the field, Contreras brothers' bond unbreakable

MILWAUKEE -- Willson Contreras is a three-time All-Star starter, a 2016 World Series champion and a handsomely paid catcher after signing a five-year, $87.5 million free-agent contract with the Cardinals in December.

However, Willson's proudest accomplishment is paving the way from Venezuela to Major League Baseball for his younger brother, William Contreras.

"I feel like as the older brother, you have the responsibility to help your brother follow in your steps,” Willson said prior to the Brewers beating the Cardinals, 4-0, on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the two rivals and their two catching brothers. “I had the ability to show him the way a little bit -- not 100 percent, but like 60 percent. Some of it, he had to learn by himself. But I’m here to help as much as I can as the older brother.”

William, 25, got the better of Willson, 30, in their first meeting this season, and the second time in their careers that they were opposing starting catchers. With William behind the plate for the Brewers, Brandon Woodruff and five relievers combined to shut out Willson’s Cardinals on five hits -- the third shutout in their last four games for a Milwaukee team riding a six-game winning streak.

The Brewers’ three shutouts in their first seven games of the season represent a franchise record, one that is also tied for the most in the Majors through any team’s first seven games dating back to 1901.

“It’s no secret we have a really good pitching staff,” William Contreras said. “Guys are doing their job. They’re getting outs. With our help [Brewers catchers Contreras and Victor Caratini], we’re calling good games and having success.”

The Contreras brothers embraced at home plate on Friday night before Willson stepped into the batter’s box for the first time. On Thursday, they dined together in Milwaukee along with their agent, Jose Mijares, and Cardinals outfielder and fellow Venezuelan Juan Yepez. William, acquired by the Brewers in an offseason trade from Atlanta, picked the spot, and his older and wealthier brother picked up the tab.

While the brothers are about as close as possible -- they live together and work out together in the offseason -- they don’t like to fraternize too much during games.

“Obviously he’s my brother, but once we’re between the lines, we’re enemies. We’re competitors,” said William, who put his mark on Friday’s game by reaching base twice and throwing out Cardinals speedster Tommy Edman trying to steal second base in the third inning. “Let the best team win and just go out there and play your hardest.”

Did he plan to do any trash talking when they meet at home plate?

“We’ll definitely say hi to each other in the first at-bat,” said William. “But after that it’s game time and let whoever’s better win.”

Added Willson, who grounded into an inning-ending double play in a key moment for Milwaukee starter Woodruff in the fourth after the first two Cardinals had reached: “We wish each other good luck. We’re brothers and professionals; he’s trying to beat me and I’m trying to beat him. I take this game way too seriously to make [jokes] in the middle of an at-bat.”

Willson has been in pro ball six years longer than William, who signed with the Braves in 2015 and reached the Majors for the first time in '20. Last season, both brothers made it to the All-Star Game and batted back to back in the National League lineup.

• Contreras on All-Star ride with brother: 'It's crazy that it's happening'

As this series approached, William said the two were talking every day, mostly via text. They almost never talk about baseball.

“We don’t necessarily have to talk about anything serious, but we talk,” he said. “He’s my brother. We talk about family.”

Early in his pro career, William would join his brother in Chicago after the end of each Minor League season. He was along for the ride in 2016, when Willson and the Cubs beat Cleveland in a thriller of a World Series Game 7 to snap Chicago’s epic championship drought.

“I enjoyed that moment, too,” William said.

• Contreras brothers' emotional day 'a dream for all of us'

Willson did not enjoy seeing his brother get traded over the winter, especially after he said that William was told by Braves executives that he wouldn’t be moved. Soon after, William was included in a three-team megadeal between the Braves, Brewers and Athletics.

“I think there was a call [from a Braves executive to William] where somebody told him he wasn’t going to get moved,” Willson recalled. “Then, a week later, he got traded. That [had] a big impact on my brother, it hurt my feelings too, and I took that personal. … That’s probably why I showed a little more emotions against the Braves in the last series. [William] felt he was safe with the Braves, at least for one more year. I understand it’s a business, but for me transparency means everything.”

Being that they are brothers, naturally there will be some good-natured trash talk between them between the games and based on which one wins the 2023 season series.

Cracked Willson: “Last year, we played them and beat them two out of three, and I was making fun of him. But our relationship is really good.”