The Milwaukee Brewers sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball and their own clubhouse back at the 2022 trade deadline when they traded Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres. In return the Brewers received Robert Gasser, Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet, and Esteury Ruiz.
At the time, the trade looked terrible Milwaukee. The team lost its steam and ended up missing the postseason for the first time since 2017. Furthermore, only one of those players received in return remained with the organization after the 2022 season (Gasser).
However, the Brewers used Ruiz to join a mega-trade between the Atlanta Braves and Oakland A’s. Just by giving up the speedy outfielder in the deal, Milwaukee was able to acquire 2022 All-Star catcher William Contreras from Atlanta.
William Contreras Won a Silver Slugger in His First Season with the Milwaukee Brewers
In Contreras, the Brewers received a catcher that is still under club control through the 2027 season. As mentioned, he was an All-Star in 2022 and had won the World Series with Atlanta in 2021.
He made his first season in Milwaukee special, too. Contreras hit .289/.367/.457 with 17 home runs and 78 RBI. He played in a career-high 141 games while also setting career highs in batting average, RBI, on base percentage, and doubles.
For his offensive production, Contreras was awarded the National League Silver Slugger for catchers. He also finished 11th in National League MVP voting.
It was an excellent first season as a Brewer, but the best was yet to come.
Milwaukee Brewers Catcher William Contreras Has Been Voted to Start in the MLB All-Star Game
Earlier tonight, the Brewers and Major League Baseball announced that Contreras had been voted as the starting catcher for the National League in the upcoming All-Star Game.
CROWN HIM 👑@Wcontreras42 will start in his second All-Star Game! pic.twitter.com/HiU7bqi8Aq
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 3, 2024
Currently, Contreras is hitting .292/.353/.445 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI. He also has played in 83 out of a possible 86 games so far this season.
Contreras also joins some rare company in the annals of franchise history. He is just the third Brewers catcher ever to be named as the starter in an All-Star Game. Jonathan Lucroy and Ted Simmons were the first two.
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