Contreras leads Brewers to title and MVP honors

William Contreras converted 10 of 13 ball-strike appeals during the World Series, a record for a catcher in the new automated era.

The performance helped the Milwaukee Brewers defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Contreras was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship series on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida. He joined seven previous catchers, including Gene Tenace and Salvador Perez, in winning the award.

Contreras batted .381 during the Series. He recorded an RBI double in the clinching 4-1 victory in Game 5. Reliever Aaron Ashby credited the catcher for the team's success. "This team’s not what it is without this guy. He’s unbelievable," Ashby said.

The 28-year-old veteran also led the league in the regular season with 105 overturned calls out of 185 challenges. His success with the robot umpire extended into the playoffs, where he won 22 of 33 challenges. The Brewers won their fourth consecutive NL Central title this season. Contreras finished the year with a .270 average, 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs.

Contreras embraced his older brother, Willson Contreras, immediately after receiving the trophy. Willson plays first base for the Boston Red Sox and won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. William Contreras, who is from Venezuela, said through tears that his brother is his best friend.

He draped a Venezuelan flag over his shoulders during the on-field celebration. The player and teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela are among only four players to win both the World Baseball Classic and the World Series in the same year. Venezuela won its first WBC title in March. Contreras said the achievement marks a historic moment for his country.