Milwaukee catcher William Contreras named World Series MVP

William Contreras was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 World Series on Wednesday, following the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5. The win secured the franchise's first championship in 44 years and capped a postseason run defined by defensive precision and offensive consistency.

Contreras hit .381 during the series while guiding the pitching staff and throwing out four base runners. He also successfully appealed 10 of 13 challenges under Major League Baseball's automated ball-strike system. In the deciding game, he hit a two-run double that contributed to the final margin of victory.

The catcher became the eighth player in his position to receive the award. His selection places him in the company of Gene Tenace, Johnny Bench, Steve Yeager, Darrell Porter, Rick Dempsey, Pat Borders, and Salvador Perez. Contreras is the second Venezuelan to win the honor.

Manager Pat Murphy described Contreras as a pit bull who cannot be easily handled. "He is our pit bull. You cannot just come up and pet it. There is a chance it will bite you," Murphy said. The manager added that he told Contreras before the final game that he would be named the MVP, noting there was no doubt in his mind regarding the decision.

During the regular season, Contreras hit .270 with 18 home runs and 94 runs batted in. He led the league with 185 challenges and 105 reversals. In the postseason, he converted 22 of 33 total appeals. "It is not magic," Contreras said regarding his success with the automated system. "I think it is the experience of playing every day all season long."

Contreras is one of only four players to win both the World Baseball Classic and the World Series in the same calendar year. He joined Alex Bregman, Luke Gregerson, and his teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela in this distinction. Contreras was part of the Venezuelan national team that won its first World Baseball Classic title in March.

After receiving the award, Contreras hugged his older brother Willson, a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Willson won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. "My brother is my role model. I do not have many friends. He is my friend," William Contreras said. "If I have something to ask someone, I ask Willson."

The Brewers had several other candidates for the award. Cooper Pratt set a rookie record with six consecutive hits and matched the single-season rookie mark for runs batted in with seven. Jackson Chourio recorded 11 hits, the most by a player in a five-game World Series. Starter Jacob Misiorowski went 2-0 with one run allowed in 10.2 innings, while reliever Aaron Ashby pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, recording a save and nine strikeouts.