LAS VEGAS – Add it to the long list of ways that catcher William Contreras has contributed to the Brewers’ success: He’s even helping players who don’t play for the Brewers yet.
Before outfielder Luis Lara (Milwaukee's No. 5 prospect, No. 91 overall) told his own parents that the team was offering the multi-year contract he signed on Tuesday, Lara called for input from Contreras, a fellow Venezuelan who has become a mentor in recent years via offseason workouts in Miami. The lessons he learned in those sessions, Lara said, helped fuel his breakout season at Triple-A Nashville, which led to Lara landing a seven-year deal that guarantees $31 million, along with a spot on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster and life-altering security for his family.
“One thing that I highlight is there have been a lot of people in my corner who have believed in me, even [through] the slow development early on in my career,” said Lara, 21, with Brewers special assistant Julio Borbón interpreting. “More than anything, I feel like I've had more people rooting for me, who believed in me, than have questioned me. That’s played a big role in where I’m at today.”
One of those people is Contreras, who is in his fourth year with the Brewers and has been a mentor to many young Latin American players, including another top prospect who signed a multi-year deal before ever stepping foot in the big leagues – Jackson Chourio.
Chourio has adopted Contreras’ habit of taking early batting practice every day it’s available, and has tried to keep up with Contreras’ legendary weight training sessions. Lara learned the same lessons during offseason workouts with Contreras and his older brother, Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, and stayed by William’s side in big league Spring Training camp.
“I’m really proud. He’s been working with me for the last two years,” William Contreras said. “He’s working for something big and knows how special it is to be in The Show. I’m really proud the Brewers made that offer.
“He’s rich now. It’s good.”
Contreras chalks up Lara’s leap forward at the plate mostly to experience – Lara came into the year as a .261/.356/.348 hitter but was at .338/.450/.498 for Triple-A Nashville this season through his return to action on Tuesday. They worked together on some adjustments over the winter related to Lara’s hand position, and talked about how difficult it is to jump from Double-A to Triple-A, and eventually from Triple-A to the big leagues.
“He’s still 21 years old, but he’s having a really good season,” Contreras said. “I don’t know, everyone says Lara is different now. … If he keeps working like a man, he’s going to be good.”
Lara said the Brewers presented the offer just a couple of weeks ago, and it came together quickly between the team and his representatives at Octagon.
“There hasn't been a whole lot of change in my game and my approach. I think it’s been the byproduct of a lot of years of hard work,” Lara said. “Things have come together, especially physically. It’s something I’ve put a lot of focus in, working with the Contreras brothers in the offseason, working on my body. I understand there’s still a lot of room for growth.”
That said, the security of the contract is “life-changing,” he said.
“I know I’m not the first and probably won’t be the last,” said Lara, who was 17 when he initially signed with the Brewers in 2022. “I understand the level of commitment that the organization has put in me. I also understand the things that I’m able to do. I’m confident enough that I know that I'm going to continue to improve. My body and my solid play in recent years, it’s something I’m going to stay on top of to make sure I’m capable of [continuing] the style of play I've been playing and they envision. And I know I’m capable of playing at the Major League level.
“I understand it's not something that gives me a free pass, that I’m just going to be able to get there. I’m going to continue to put in the same amount of work and the same approach to my game as I’ve had in previous years.”