William Contreras
A Venezuelan catcher whose explosive bat and powerful arm have made him a central, dynamic force for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Venezuelan baseball player·Birthday: December 24·Generation Z
Biography
William Contreras arrived in Major League Baseball as part of a catching dynasty—his brother Willson was already an All-Star. But he quickly carved his own path with a potent combination of offensive firepower and improving defensive skills. After showing flashes of his hitting prowess with the Atlanta Braves, a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers unlocked his full potential. In Milwaukee, he shed the 'part-time' label, becoming an everyday fixture whose right-handed swing produces both high averages and formidable power. Behind the plate, his arm is a deterrent, regularly ranking among the league's best at throwing out would-be base stealers. Contreras represents the modern catcher: not just a defensive specialist, but a middle-of-the-order threat who changes games with one swing, continuing Venezuela's rich tradition of producing elite baseball talent.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
William was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was selected as the starting catcher for the National League in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.
- Won a Silver Slugger Award in 2023 as the best offensive catcher in the National League.
- Posted a season with a batting average over .290, more than 20 home runs, and an OPS over .850 in 2023.
- Led National League catchers in throwing out base stealers in the 2023 season.
Did You Know?
His older brother, Willson Contreras, is also a Major League catcher and multi-time All-Star.
He was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in 2015.
In 2022, he was traded from the Braves to the Brewers in a multi-team deal that also involved the Oakland Athletics.
“I don't hear the crowd; I hear the catcher's mitt.”
