2026 World Series: Brewers catcher William Contreras wins MVP with strong effort with his bat and behind the plate
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras is the World Series MVP.
The Brewers veteran helped Milwaukee win the franchise’s first World Series championship with a dominant effort with his bat and a remarkable performance behind the plate. He fought back tears after being named MVP following Milwaukee’s 4-1 Game 5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, which secured a 4-1 series victory.
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“I have no words to express how I feel,” Contreras said after winning the award.
In five World Series games, Contreras slashed .381/.435/.429 with 2 walks, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 1 stolen base. He hit an RBI single in the first inning of Game 1 to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in what ended up being a 3-2 victory.
In the sixth inning of Wednesday’s deciding Game 5, Contreras drove in a run with a double and came in to score as the Brewers took control with a 4-0 lead.
Contreras was in command behind the plate throughout the Series, as Milwaukee’s pitching staff muted a hard-hitting Rays lineup, limiting Tampa Bay to 2.4 runs per game. He also set the defensive tone in Milwaukee’s Game 1 win, with two caught steals to end the Rays’ threats.
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In that one, Contreras threw out Victor Mesa Jr. at third base to end the top of the fifth with leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz at the plate. Contreras then threw out Jonathan Aranda at second to end the top of the sixth and maintain Milwaukee’s lead 2-1.
Several Brewers gave Contreras a shot at MVP
Contreras dominated a competitive MVP race in which no fewer than five Brewers had strong cases for the award.
Jackson Chourio was Milwaukee’s best hitter in the series, with a .458/.458/.542 slash line and 11 total hits. His 10 hits in Game 4 tied him with Babe Ruth for the most in the first four games in World Series history.
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Rookie Cooper Pratt was Milwaukee’s most productive hitter, hitting a .421/.455/.684 slash line with 1 home run and 7 RBIs. His six-game hitting streak in Games 4 and 5 set a World Series record for a rookie.
Reliever Aaron Ashby capped one of the most dominant bullpen efforts in MLB postseason history with 5 2/3 scoreless innings in three World Series appearances. He finished the postseason with 18 scoreless innings in nine appearances, the most ever by a reliever in a single postseason.
And ace Jacob Misiorowski pitched 10 2/3 one-run innings in two Fall Classic starts, earning wins in Games 1 and 5. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings to lead Milwaukee to victory Wednesday.
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But in the end, it was Contreras who got the hardware. It was a well-deserved honor for the three-time All-Star, who has been with the Brewers since their streak of four consecutive playoff appearances began in 2023.
William Contreras lifts the MVP trophy after helping the Brewers win their first World Series championship.
(Carmen Mandato via Getty Images)
Historic first championship for the Brewers
The Brewers capped their historic season and dominant postseason run with Wednesday’s victory to secure the first championship in franchise history.
They led baseball with 103 regular season wins. Then they beat the San Diego Padres in four games in the NLDS to set up an NLCS rematch with a two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers team that swept them in last year’s NLCS.
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The Brewers then eliminated the Dodgers with a four-game sweep and needed just five games to beat the AL champion Rays. They lost two playoff games en route to their long-awaited title and finished the playoffs 11-2.
There was little doubt in the postseason as to which team is the best in baseball, and the Brewers will return to Milwaukee to celebrate with their fans with the franchise’s first championship parade.
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