The key facts

  • Milwaukee won the first World Series in its history, beating Tampa Bay 4-1
  • William Contreras is the third Venezuelan to receive the World Series MVP award
  • The catcher batted .382 and caught four Rays runners attempting to steal bases

Milwaukee's first title in franchise history and an award for Contreras

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras has been named the World Series Most Valuable Player after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in the best-of-seven series, AFP reports. The 4-1 win in Game Five, in which Contreras drove in a run with a double in the sixth inning, gave Milwaukee the first World Series championship in the club's history.

Contribution at the plate and behind it

The 28-year-old Contreras batted .382 and drove in four runs (RBI) over the series. His defensive contribution was just as significant: he caught four Rays players attempting to steal bases, two of them in the first game, and confidently directed the Brewers' pitching staff, which held down the opponent's lineup. AFP also highlights his skill in working with the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System.

The third Venezuelan on the MVP list

Contreras became the third Venezuelan to be named World Series MVP, after Pablo Sandoval (San Francisco Giants, 2012) and Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals, 2015). Receiving the award, he said: 'I am very proud. I don't even know what to say. I have no words to describe what I feel. I just want to thank my teammates. I love this game.' The player nicknamed 'Wild Bill' cemented his status as a major league star ten years after his older brother Willson Contreras won the World Series with the Chicago Cubs; the brothers embraced immediately after the MVP announcement.

A victory in March and a title in October

According to AFP, Contreras celebrated the championship alongside his Milwaukee teammate Jackson Chourio: in March, they helped Venezuela win the first World Baseball Classic in its history, defeating the United States in the final.