“More astonishing than a .380 batting average” — 77% ABS success rate, overturning 10 umpire calls… The incredible presence of Milwaukee’s first World Series MVP

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He challenged 13 calls and overturned a staggering 10 of them, while also shutting down the opposing team’s greatest weapon: base-running speed. William Contreras (29), who displayed an incredible presence on both offense and defense, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Milwaukee Brewers’ first World Series championship in franchise history.

The official Major League Baseball website, MLB.com, highlighted his performance on the 30th (Korean time), stating, “Contreras earned the honor of World Series MVP thanks to the defensive skills he displayed behind the plate.”

Milwaukee defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series (best-of-seven series) on the 29th at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. With a series record of four wins and one loss, the Brewers reached the pinnacle of the World Series for the first time since their founding in 1969.

Milwaukee, which posted a franchise-record and MLB-leading 103 wins during the regular season, defeated the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series before sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers—who were aiming for a third consecutive World Series title—in four straight games in the Championship Series. In the World Series, Milwaukee took a three-game lead over Tampa Bay but lost Game 4 on a walk-off hit in the 12th inning of extra innings. However, they immediately won Game 5 to put an end to their long wait.

Contreras was at the center of it all. In five World Series games, Contreras posted a .381 batting average (eight hits in 21 at-bats), an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.864, and four runs batted in. Even in Game 5, which decided the championship, he drove in Christian Yelich with a two-run RBI double in the sixth inning while Milwaukee led 3-0, adding a crucial run.

However, what MLB.com paid even more attention to was his performance as a catcher. This year, Major League Baseball introduced the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenge for the first time, allowing players to contest ball and strike calls. Contreras was the brightest star in this inaugural “ABS World Series.”

Contreras challenged 13 ball-and-strike calls during this World Series and overturned a whopping 10 of them. His success rate reached 77%, significantly exceeding the regular-season average overturn rate of 60% for fielders. Even when expanding the scope to the entire postseason, he succeeded in 22 out of 33 challenges, demonstrating a high accuracy rate of 67%.

Even Milwaukee Manager Pat Murphy marveled via MLB.com, “I don’t know how he does it with ABS so well. He has a feel for it.” When asked about the secret, Contreras replied cheerfully, “It’s just magic.”

This advantage was particularly pronounced given that the opposing Tampa Bay Rays’ main weapon is mobility-based baseball that leverages their speed. Before reaching the World Series, Tampa Bay had attempted 11 stolen bases in this postseason without a single failure. However, against Contreras, they attempted nine stolen bases and failed four times.

Thanks to him, the Milwaukee pitching staff he led also shut down the Tampa Bay lineup with an ERA of 1.91 and a batting average against of .182 in the World Series. Veteran starter Brandon Woodruff (33, Milwaukee) evaluated Contreras, saying, “He has an excellent feel for reading hitters.”

Looking back at how Milwaukee acquired Contreras makes the story even more dramatic. Contreras donned the Brewers’ uniform through a three-team trade involving the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee in December 2022. At the time, Atlanta traded away Contreras to acquire catcher Sean Murphy. Milwaukee sent prospect Esteban Luis and received Contreras along with pitchers Joel Payamps and Justin Yager.

Ultimately, it became a trade that will go down in Milwaukee franchise history. According to MLB.com, Contreras has recorded 18 fWAR (FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement) over four seasons since joining Milwaukee. During the same period, he ranks second among MLB catchers behind Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh (20.8).

The year 2026 became an unforgettable one for his family as well. Contreras reached the pinnacle of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) with the Venezuelan national team alongside his brother Wilson Contreras, and in July, they both participated in the All-Star Game. And at the end of the season, the younger brother lifted the World Series MVP trophy. After the ceremony, his older brothers Wilson and Wilmer were waiting for him on the field.

According to MLB.com, the Contreras brothers have become the 10th set of siblings in history to each experience a World Series championship. Wilson Contreras first reached the summit with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Contreras boasted of their brotherly bond, saying of his older brother, “He is my role model. I don’t have many friends, but my brother is my friend. If I have something to ask, I ask Wilson.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original