This Milwaukee Breweries sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball and their own club in 2022 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 awful for Milwaukee, with the team losing momentum and failing to make the postseason for the first time since 2017. What’s more, only one of the players received in the trade stayed with the organization beyond the 2022 season (Gasser).
However, the Brewers used Ruiz to join a mega-trade between the Atlanta Braves and Oakland A’s. Milwaukee was able to acquire 2022 All-Star catcher William Contreras from Atlanta by simply giving up the speedy defender in the deal.
William Contreras won the Silver Slugger in his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers
In Contreras, the Brewers got a catcher who is still under club control through the 2027 season. As mentioned, he was an All-Star in 2022 and won a World Series with Atlanta in 2021.
He also made his first season in Milwaukee special. Contreras hit .289/.367/.457 with 17 home runs and 78 RBIs. He played in a career-high 141 games and set records in batting average, RBIs, on-base percentage and doubles.
For his offensive production, Contreras was awarded the National League Silver Slugger for catchers. He also finished 11th in the National League MVP voting.
It was an excellent first season with the Brewers, but the best was yet to come.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras has been selected to start the MLB All-Star Game
Tonight, the Brewers and Major League Baseball announced that Contreras has been selected as the starting catcher in the National League for the upcoming All-Star Game.
CROWN HIM 👑@Wcontreras42 will appear in his second All-Star Game! photo:twitter.com/HiU7bqi8Aq
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 3, 2024
Contreras is currently slashing .292/.353/.445 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. He has also played in 83 of a possible 86 games this season.
Contreras also joins sporadic company in the annals of franchise history. He is just the third Brewers catcher to be named an All-Star starter, Jonathan Lucroy and Ted Simmons being the first two.
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