From Tape Ball to MLB, Wilson Contreras and Brothers’ Journey is Powerful

Which, of course, remains unknown.

The Cardinals won in 2022 and the Brewers won in 2021. You may have heard that the Cardinals’ new catcher this season is Wilson Contreras. The Brewers’ new catcher is his older brother William, who hit 20 home runs in just 334 at-bats in Atlanta last year.

“He’s still swallowing trades. It’s really impacted him,” Wilson said at the winter warm-up. “And knowing he has a chance to be himself in Milwaukee ,I’m really happy with him.And we’ve already talked about some situations.But it looks like it will be more fun playing against my brother than last year. I’m looking forward to it. I know he wants to beat me, but I want to beat him. We’re brothers, but that’s part of the game.”

It’s a really fascinating story. Their story began on the streets of Puerto Cabello on Venezuela’s north coast.

“We were playing baseball with sticks and tape balls,” Wilson said.

From those streets, Wilson blazed new trails. His dedication led him to Venezuela’s baseball academy at the age of 16. The Cubs signed him when he was 17 years old.

His older brother was five years younger.

“We always wanted to be big leaguers,” Wilson said. “So when I signed, he said he was an example for me to follow. I like challenges and responsibilities, so he put a heavy burden on my shoulders.

“And I told him — don’t give up. It’s not easy. You have to go to America and learn the language and culture. But we have to think about our families and what we want to achieve in life. “

Wilson Contreras made his major debut in the summer of 2016.

His team won the World Series that fall.

William Contreras will make his major league debut in the summer of 2021.

His team won the World Series that fall.

“I started crying when I found out he was called up,” said Wilson, who played for the Cubs from 2016-22. And I’m really humbled to be in the same league with you.”

Last April, the Contreras brothers exchanged lineup cards at home before the Cubs-Braves game. Wilson made three All-Stars on his team as a Cub, most recently as a starter in 2022. That summer, William was named a reserve to the All-Star team in the same National League. The manager was Brian Snicker from Atlanta. In his batting order, skipper Snicker had catcher Wilson Contreras in six at bats and designated hitter William Contreras in seven.

Now, the Cardinals’ fan base is especially grateful for capturing family. Over the years, St. Louis learned the traits and anecdotes that have come to define the Molina family. He had a son named Yadir. he was pretty good And his older brother, Benji, has also become part of the Cardinals culture, most recently as a broadcaster (his third older brother, Jose, also played for the Bigs, and all three have won his series at Worlds). bottom).

Likeable Francisco Peña spent the 2018 season playing in St. Louis. His famous father, Tony, was an All-Star, his Cardinals catcher, and one of the 1987 pennant winners. Also, Matt Pagnozzi recorded his 42 at-bats at the club, and his uncle Tom won his three golds and his glove award as a catcher. And in his 1940s, including three World Series, Walker Cooper was the Cardinals’ backstop and his brother Mort was on the mound. Lewis already he was one Cooperstown.

Heading into 2023, there’s talk in town that Wilson could be the third big bat needed in the Cardinals’ lineup. I am hitting a home run. What bothers me is how many games he plays. He averaged 120.2 games played over the last five seasons. Last season, the Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol his manager did an admirable job with the DH spot. There may be a day when Contreras is still in the lineup even if Andrew Knizner catches him. It certainly helps your health.

As for the division, the Cardinals should be the frontrunners, although the Cubs have signed plenty of bats and the Brewers still have a great hurler. It was Atlanta (with new catcher Sean Murphy) that sent William to Milwaukee, but Wilson himself chose to leave the Cubs and go to the Cardinals. Indeed, he came here to win this division. But he also came here to recreate history.

He said that winning the World Series with the 2016 Cubs “keep me motivated and I want to win every year. has the idea of ​​winning the World Series and getting to the World Series, and I think it’s time to get there, so once you win the World Series, you’re going to be hungry for that. And that’s what they’ve shown me all along, they want to win the World Series.”