Willson Contreras facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willson Contreras |
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Contreras with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023
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| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 40 | |||
| First baseman / Catcher | |||
| Born: May 13, 1992 Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| June 17, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 27, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .258 | ||
| Home runs | 166 | ||
| Runs batted in | 529 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
Willson Eduardo Contreras (born May 13, 1992) is a professional baseball player from Venezuela. He plays as a first baseman and catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Cardinals, he played for the Chicago Cubs.
Willson Contreras started his MLB career in 2016. He was part of the team that won the 2016 World Series. He was chosen to start in the MLB All-Star Game three times: in 2018, 2019, and 2022. After the 2022 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Cardinals.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Willson Contreras was born on May 13, 1992, in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. His parents are Olga and William Contreras. He has an older brother, Willmer, and a younger brother, William. Willson and William often played baseball in the street when they were kids. They used a crumpled piece of paper as a ball. When he was 16, Willson started attending a baseball academy in Venezuela. This academy was run by the Chicago Cubs team.
Baseball Career
Playing in the Minor Leagues
Willson Contreras signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2009. He started his professional baseball journey that year. He played for the Dominican Summer League Cubs when he was 17. He continued to play in different minor league teams for several years. These teams included the Boise Hawks, Kane County Cougars, Daytona Cubs, and Tennessee Smokies.
In 2015, he was named the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year. He had a great season, hitting .333 with eight home runs. During his time in the minor leagues, he played many different positions. He was a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and even played in the outfield.
Chicago Cubs (2016–2022)
Making His MLB Debut
The Cubs called Contreras up to the major league team on June 17, 2016. Just two days later, on June 19, he hit a two-run home run. This happened on the very first pitch he saw in his first major league at-bat! He became one of only 30 players in modern MLB history to do this. He quickly showed he could play many positions. He started at first base in his fifth game and in left field in his eighth game.
Contreras finished his first regular season in 2016 with a .275 batting average. He had 12 home runs and 35 RBIs.
World Series Champion
In 2016, the Cubs were in the 2016 National League Division Series. In Game 4, Contreras hit a big two-run single. This tied the score and helped the Cubs win the game. They then moved on to the National League Championship Series. The Cubs went on to win the 2016 World Series. This was a huge win, as it was the Cubs' first championship in 108 years! Contreras helped by hitting a double that brought in a run in the final game.
Strong Seasons and All-Star Games
In 2017, Contreras was the Cubs' main catcher on opening day. He had a great start to August, hitting five home runs in six games. He was named the National League's Player of the Week. Later that month, he had a muscle injury in his leg. He returned to play in September. He finished the 2017 season hitting .276 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs. In a playoff game that year, he hit a home run that traveled 491 feet. This was one of the longest postseason home runs recorded since 2015.
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In 2018, Contreras was chosen to start in the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was his first time being an All-Star. He ended the 2018 season hitting .249 with ten home runs.
He started the 2019 season very well. On May 11, he hit his first career "walk-off" hit. This was a home run that won the game in the 15th inning! Contreras and his teammate Javier Baez were both chosen to start in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He had another leg muscle injury in August. He finished 2019 with 24 home runs and 64 RBIs.
In the shorter 2020 season, Contreras played in 57 games. He hit seven home runs and had 26 RBIs. In 2021, he hit 21 home runs and had 57 RBIs. He also caught a special game on June 24. It was the first "combined no-hitter" in Cubs history. This means no opposing player got a hit during the entire game.
On May 16, 2022, Contreras hit a grand slam. This was his 100th career home run! He was also selected for the 2022 MLB All Star Game again. His younger brother, William Contreras, was also chosen. They became only the fifth pair of brothers to play in the same All-Star Game.
St. Louis Cardinals (2023–Present)
On December 9, 2022, Willson Contreras signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. In May 2023, the Cardinals decided to try him in different positions for a while. He played more as a designated hitter and in the outfield. He returned to catching duties on May 15. He finished the 2023 season with a .264 batting average, 20 home runs, and 67 RBIs.
2024 Season
On May 7, 2024, Contreras broke his left forearm during a game. He was hit by a swing from an opposing player. He needed surgery and missed at least six weeks of playing time. In 84 games for St. Louis in 2024, he hit 15 home runs and had 36 RBIs. After the season, the team announced that Contreras would permanently move to playing first baseman.
2025 Season
On June 5, 2025, Contreras played his 1,000th career game. This was against the Kansas City Royals. In that game, he hit a single that won the game in extra innings. This was his third career "walk-off" hit and his first as a Cardinal. Also, in that same game, Contreras recorded his 500th career RBI.
Personal Life
Willson Contreras's younger brother, William Contreras, is also a catcher in MLB. Willson married Andrea Villamizar on May 3, 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Willson Contreras para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
