William Contreras receives glowing praise from ex-Tigers All-Star for exceptional season with Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers star William Contreras is proving to be one of the steals of the early 2020s. Treated mainly as a back-up catcher, Contreras was let go from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team trade including the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland Athletics in 2022. In Milwaukee, the 27-year-old has flourished as one of the league's top backstops.

In the latest edition of MLB's 'Top 10 Right Now,' host Brian Kenny and former Detroit Tigers All-Star Alex Avila sang their praises about William Contreras.

"When you're looking at him from an overall perspective, he is the total package," Avila said. (0:56-1:00)

A former All-Star backstop himself, Avila had kind words for the young Brewers catcher.

"He lacked defensive tools in Atlanta that's why they thought they could trade him. However, Milwaukee has done a great job in making him a good defensive catcher." (1:01 onwards)

William Contreras named as top catcher based on MLB list

Continuing on with the analysis, pundit Brian Kenny and ex-Tigers backstop Alex Avila named William Contreras as the best catcher in the majors heading into the 2025 season.

Contreras took over the reins from Baltimore Orioles star Adley Rutschman, ranked first last season. The Orioles catcher was placed second this year with two-time World Series champion Will Smith taking third, Astros backstop Yanier Diaz and Mariners star Cal Raleigh rounding out the top five.

"He was known as the other Contreras for a while as his brother Willson was a regular in top catcher lists. But William has now established himself in his own right," said Kenny.

"Contreras backed up his breakout season in 2023 with another outstanding year in 2024. He hits for average, takes his bases, hits for power and led all catchers with a .466 slugging percentage."

In 2024, William Contreras led all catchers with at least 300 plate appearances with on base percentage (.365), slugging percentage (.466), wRC+ (131), hard--hit percentage (49.5), and fWAR (5.4).

For his spectacular performance, he was selected to his second All-Star game, was voted as a member of the All-MLB First Team, and won his second-straight Silver Slugger Award with the Brewers.