Willson Contreras
A Venezuelan catcher with a cannon arm and explosive bat whose fiery energy helped break a century-old curse for the Chicago Cubs.
Born 1992 (age 34)·Venezuelan baseball player·Birthday: May 13·Millennials
Biography
Willson Contreras arrived in the majors not with a whisper, but a bang, homering in his first big-league at-bat. Hailing from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, he brought a Latin American passion to the storied Chicago Cubs, his intensity visible in every blocked pitch and thunderous swing. As the starting catcher, he was the defensive and emotional engine of a team that ended a 108-year championship drought in 2016. His combination of power-hitting and elite throwing arm made him a constant All-Star threat. After defining an era in Chicago, his career took him to St. Louis and later Boston, where his veteran presence and potent bat continue to shape games.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Willson was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Willson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Willson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
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
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
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
2013Turned 21
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
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a World Series championship with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, ending the franchise's long title drought.
- Selected as a National League All-Star three times (2018, 2019, 2022).
- Recorded a throw to first base at 87.8 mph in 2022, one of the fastest ever tracked for a catcher.
Did You Know?
His older brother, William Contreras, is also a Major League Baseball catcher and All-Star.
He was originally signed by the Cubs as a third baseman before converting to catcher.
He hit a home run in his very first MLB plate appearance in 2016.
“I play with my heart on my sleeve. That's just who I am.”
