Contreras honored with World Series MVP for prowess behind the plate
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William Contreras has been named the MVP of the 2026 World Series after his sensational all-around play helped the Brewers capture the first World Series championship in franchise history, capped off with a 4-1 title-clinching victory in Game 5 over the Rays on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee’s catcher was the emotional leader of the squad that finally won it all in the 58th season of the franchise, and he produced both at the plate and behind it against Tampa Bay.
The Brewers’ 28-year-old backstop went 8-for-21 (.381) with a double and four RBIs in the batter’s box, and he was successful on an incredible 10 of 13 (77%) ABS challenges from behind it. Not only that, he threw out four of nine runners attempting to steal, effectively neutralizing the run game that was a calling card for the Rays.
“I don't have words to say how I'm feeling, but I'm just appreciative of my teammates, appreciative of [manager Pat] Murphy, and just want to thank all of them,” Contreras said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert.
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As to his prowess with the numerous ABS challenges throughout the Series, Contreras attributed his success to experience and an incredible pitching staff.
“I don't know,” Contreras said. “It's just magic. I'm behind the plate every day. I think that's the pitchers we have, and my pitchers are so nasty, everybody. So that helped me too.”
Contreras guided that vaunted pitching staff masterfully, particularly 24-year-old flamethrower and National League Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski and a bullpen that produced one of the greatest performances in World Series history -- led by left-hander Aaron Ashby and his record-setting 18 scoreless innings overall this postseason.
“Through Bill,” Misiorowski said of how he was able to navigate the pressure and emotion of the World Series. “We've been talking this whole week and you know, expecting this moment. It’s amazing, I couldn't have done it without him and it's been amazing with him this whole season.”
“It’s all this guy right here,” Ashby said of Contreras. “He posts every day, and this team's not what it is without this guy. This guy's unbelievable. He wants to compete every single day. He wants to die for everyone on this team, and he would do anything for any one of the guys on this team. And he's our bulldog, and we love this dude.”
Contreras is a three-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner over seven Major League seasons, the first three of which were spent with the Braves. He was on the 2021 Atlanta club that won the World Series, though he did not appear in that year’s Fall Classic against the Astros.
His 2026 World Series title and MVP caps a year in which he also won a World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Venezuela.