ST. PETERSBURG -- He stood there at the center of the podium, arms aloft, holding the Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy high as pyrotechnics sparked behind him.
It was a wonderful image and an appropriate one. Because William Contreras was at the center of everything in the Milwaukee Brewers’ run to their first World Series title in franchise history and again in their 4-1 victory over the Rays in the Game 5 clincher Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
Calling pitches, successfully challenging balls and strikes, shutting down the Rays’ ordinarily ample running game and stroking hit after hit, the 28-year-old Contreras showed a wider baseball audience what an all-around talent he is.
“I don't have words to say how I'm feeling,” Contreras said through an interpreter. “But I'm just appreciative of my teammates, appreciative for [manager Pat] Murphy, and just want to thank all of them.”
Contreras’ year began and ended with glory. He and older brother Willson took part in Team Venezuela’s run to a World Baseball Classic title. Then William helped pilot the Brewers to a title that was 57 years in the making.
At the plate in this Series, Contreras went 8-for-21 with four RBIs, including the sixth-inning double that scored Christian Yelich with an important insurance run in Game 5.
Behind the plate, Contreras threw out four of nine would-be base-stealers on a Rays team that got this far in part because of its speed (Tampa Bay had been 11-for-11 in stolen-base attempts in this postseason prior to the World Series). He helped neutralize what made the Rays great, all while helping Milwaukee’s pitching staff post a 1.91 ERA and .182 average against.
“He’s special, man,” longtime Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff said. “A lot of great feel behind the plate. He has a great feel for what the hitter’s telling us.”
Catchers to Win World Series MVP:
2026 William Contreras
2015 Salvador Perez
1992 Pat Borders
1983 Rick Dempsey
1982 Darrell Porter
1981 Steve Yeager (co-MVP)
1976 Johnny Bench
1972 Gene Tenace
Seven previous catchers had won World Series MVP or co-MVP, most recently Salvador Perez of the 2015 Royals. But there was something extra appropriate about a catcher who mastered the art and science of the ABS Challenge System winning World Series MVP in the first year of the technology’s use at the MLB level.
It was fascinating to watch Contreras get hot with his challenges much the same way a hitter might catch fire at the plate. He was zoned in on the zone throughout this postseason, with a 67% overturn rate on 33 challenges. And in the World Series, in particular, 10 of his 13 challenges (77%) were overturned, well above the regular-season rate of 60% for fielders.
“He's been incredible, plain and simple,” Murphy said. “How he does the ABS thing, I don't know.”
Murphy motioned the flipping of a coin to illustrate the overall average for overturns.
“I really don't know sometimes,” Murphy continued, “but the guy has a knack for it.”
What’s the secret?
“It's just magic,” Contreras said with a smile.
A highly transactional Brewers front office made one of its greatest transactions on Dec. 12, 2022. The Braves had Contreras but thought they could upgrade behind the dish with the A’s Sean Murphy. The Brewers were brought into what became a three-team deal to make the pieces match up. They gave up prospect Esteury Ruiz, who to date has not amounted to much, in exchange for Contreras and right-handers Joel Payamps and Justin Yeager.
In the four seasons since, Contreras has been worth 18 fWAR, second only to the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh (20.8) among catchers. He’s also second only to Raleigh in weighted runs created plus (120 vs. 124) among catchers with at least 2,000 plate appearances in that span.
“He posts every day, and this team's not what it is without this guy,” record-setting reliever Aaron Ashby said. “This guy's unbelievable. He wants to compete every single day. He wants to die for everyone on this team, and he would do anything for any one of the guys on this team. And he's our bulldog, and we love this dude.”
It comes from growing up learning the fun and fundamentals of the game with Willson. The two would play street baseball using sticks and crumpled paper on their path to becoming big league stars.
The Contreras brothers produced a special 2026. Willson led the Red Sox to the postseason with a career-best .901 OPS. And of course, Willson and the middle Contreras brother, Willmer, were there for William’s big night at The Trop, ready for a big hug after the MVP honor was presented.
“My brother is my role model. I don't have a lot of friends. He's my friend. I love him,” William Contreras said. “I love all the support that he gives me. If I have something to ask somebody, I ask Willson.”
After the on-field salute, as he headed into the clubhouse, Contreras draped a Venezuelan flag around himself. The thousands of Brewers fans in attendance chanted, “MVP! MVP! MVP!” A fitting end to a fantastic year.