World Series star Contreras the very definition of first Flow Mayor Award

In 2026, as is the case every year, there was significant "Flow," or swagger and style, in Major League Baseball on and off the field, in no small part thanks to the impact of Latin American players. But be it home run trots, bat flips, singular celebrations or off-the-field style, who had the greatest, or "Mayor” Flow, this past season?

On Wednesday at the MLB Awards Show presented by MGM Rewards at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Brewers catcher William Contreras won the first "Flow Mayor" distinction for Major League Baseball -- an award with its roots in the "El Béisbol Es Otra Cosa" (Baseball Is Something Else) marketing campaign -- for his achievements on the field and his flair on and off it. “Wild Bill,” the 2026 World Series Most Valuable Player, was a two-time champion this year after playing a key role in Team Venezuela’s winning the World Baseball Classic championship in March and then raising the Fall Classic trophy last month.

Along the way, Contreras -- with his countrymen and Brewers teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela -- joined Alex Bregman and Luke Gregerson (Team USA and the Astros, 2017) as the only players to win a World Baseball Classic championship and a World Series title in the same year.

On Wednesday, the "Flow Mayor" Award was presented to Contreras by none other than his older brother, Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras.

“I’m a little disappointed that I’m presenting the first Flow Mayor award and am not a nominee, because I have a lot of flow. It also rhymes with slow…have you seen my home run trot?” Willson joked before calling William up to the stage. “I play this game with a lot of passion and personality. It’s been an honor to watch my younger brother develop into that same type of player.”

Before being presented with a diamond-crusted toothpick – which he immediately tried out upon receipt – Contreras showed off a few salsa dance moves on stage. He also asserted that he is the more entertaining of the two brothers. And of course, William and Willson are part of an exclusive club of 10 pairs of brothers who have won World Series championships, with the latter securing a ring as a rookie with the Cubs in 2016 before William’s championship seasons with the Braves in 2021 and the Brewers this year.

“I was thrilled to watch him join me as a World Series champion,” Willson said. “It’s been a special year for him, so I think he’s deserving of one more award.”

William Contreras' Flow was evident on Wednesday and throughout the year. But of course, his impact in 2026 was felt mostly on the field.

Contreras drove in three runs in four games during Venezuela’s march to the World Baseball Classic crown -- the country’s first -- at Miami’s loanDepot park in mid-March.

Then, he drove in a personal-high 94 runs in the 2026 campaign, helping Milwaukee win its fourth consecutive AL Central title. And in the postseason, Contreras led the Majors with 19 hits while batting .373/.448/.588. That included a slash line of .381/.435/.429 in the Brewers' five-game victory over the Rays in the World Series, in which he also threw out four would-be basestealers and displayed a brilliant handling of the ABS challenge system, with 10 of his 13 challenges being overturned (77%).

“It was a year to be blessed for us, for Brewers history,” Contreras said as he held the World Series trophy on stage in one of the Awards Show’s first segments, basking once more in the glory of the 2026 championship along with several of his Milwaukee teammates. “We played for the fans. We played really good for the fans. I’ve got to say (that) we did everything for the fans and we really appreciate them for everything.”