Contreras: Brewers catcher takes MVP

William Contreras was named the World Series Most Valuable Player on Wednesday night, becoming the eighth catcher to receive the honor.

Contreras hit .381 during the series while managing Milwaukee's pitching staff. He successfully overturned 10 of 13 automated ball-strike decisions, a factor that defined the first World Series to use the challenge system. He also recorded an RBI double in the Brewers' 4-1 win in Game 5.

Reliever Aaron Ashby credited the catcher with the team's success. “He posts every day,

Ashby said. “This team’s not what it is without this guy. He’s unbelievable.”

Contreras embraced his older brother, Willson, after accepting the award. Willson, a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, won a title with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. “My brother’s my best friend,” William Contreras said through tears. He later draped a Venezuelan flag over his shoulders. “It means everything because that’s the first time Venezuela guys win the WBC,

he said. “It’s history, history for my country.”

The 28-year-old three-time All-Star batted .270 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs during the regular season as Milwaukee claimed its fourth consecutive NL Central title. He finished the postseason with a .444 average and two solo homers in the Division Series against San Diego. He batted .357 with one home run and three RBIs in the sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Championship Series.