William Contreras named World Series MVP as Brewers win first title in franchise history

The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history, and the player at the center of it was their catcher. William Contreras was named World Series MVP after Milwaukee beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, closing out the series four games to one.

“I don’t have words to say how I’m feeling,” Contreras said through an interpreter after the clincher, according to MLB.com. “But I’m just appreciative of my teammates, appreciative for [manager Pat] Murphy, and just want to thank all of them.”

Who won the World Series MVP in 2026?

Contreras, Milwaukee’s All-Star catcher, took home the Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy. MLB.com described him holding it over his head on the podium as pyrotechnics went off behind him, while Brewers fans in the ballpark chanted “MVP!” He later draped a Venezuelan flag around himself on the way to the clubhouse.

His case was built on both sides of the ball:

• At the plate: He went 8-for-21 (.381) with four RBIs and struck out only once, CBS Sports reported. That included a sixth-inning double in Game 5 that scored Christian Yelich with an insurance run.
• Fast start: CBS Sports noted he became the 27th player in history with multiple hits in each of the first three games of a World Series, including three hits in Game 3.
• Behind the plate: He threw out four of nine would-be base stealers against a Rays team that, per MLB.com, had been 11-for-11 on steal attempts this postseason before the World Series.
• Pitch calling: MLB.com credited him with helping Milwaukee’s staff to a 1.91 ERA and a .182 opponents’ batting average in the series.

What are ABS challenges, and why did they matter?

This was the first season of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system in the majors, which lets players appeal a ball or strike call. Contreras turned it into a weapon. MLB.com counted 10 of his 13 World Series challenges as overturned (77%), well above the 60% regular-season rate for fielders. CBS Sports put his World Series mark at 10 for 14, so the exact count differs slightly between the two outlets.

“How he does the ABS thing, I don’t know,” Murphy said, per MLB.com. “The guy has a knack for it.” Contreras’s own explanation: “It’s just magic.”

Was there competition for World Series MVP?

Yes. CBS Sports pointed out several strong cases: reliever Aaron Ashby threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the series, Jackson Chourio went 11-for-24 (.458), and rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt went 8-for-19 (.421). Ashby was among the first to back his catcher. “This team’s not what it is without this guy,” he said. “He’s our bulldog and we love this dude.”

Contreras is the first catcher to win the award since Salvador Perez with the 2015 Kansas City Royals. MLB.com lists him as the eighth catcher to win it or share it, joining Perez, Pat Borders, Rick Dempsey, Darrell Porter, Steve Yeager, Johnny Bench and Gene Tenace.

How did the Brewers get William Contreras?

Milwaukee landed him in a three-team trade with the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics in December 2022, the deal that sent catcher Sean Murphy to Atlanta. CBS Sports called it “a heist.” MLB.com reported the Brewers gave up prospect Esteury Ruiz and also received pitchers Joel Payamps and Justin Yeager. Since then, MLB.com says, Contreras ranks second among catchers in FanGraphs WAR, behind only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.

Who is William Contreras’s brother?

His older brother is Willson Contreras, a longtime big-league catcher who, MLB.com reports, helped lead the Boston Red Sox to the postseason this year with a career-best .901 OPS. The brothers also won the World Baseball Classic together with Venezuela earlier in 2026. Willson and middle brother Willmer were at the ballpark for William’s big night.

“My brother is my role model,” William said, per MLB.com. “If I have something to ask somebody, I ask Willson.”

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