All-Star Catcher William Contreras Joins Exclusive List in Milwaukee Brewers History

William Conteras is set to join Jonathan Lucroy and Ted Simmons as the only Milwaukee Brewers catchers ever to start for the National League in the All-Star Game.
Jul 3, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) reacts in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Jul 3, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) reacts in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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William Contreras has joined quite the exclusive list in the Milwaukee Brewers history books.

The 26-year-old catcher was announced as a member of the National League's starting lineup for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game on Wednesday. Contreras and outfielder Christian Yelich were both among the winners in Phase 2 of the fan voting, giving the Brewers two starters for the NL.

Contreras will become the first Brewers catcher to start in the All-Star Game since Jonathan Lucroy in 2014, as noted by MLB.com's Sarah Langs. Before Lucroy, Ted Simmons was the only Brewers' catcher to start in the All-Star Game, doing so back in 1983.

That puts Contreras on an exclusive list of three players in franchise history.

Contreras beat out Philadelphia Phillies catcher JT Realmuto in Phase 2 voting this week. He previously fended off Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith and his brother, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, in Phase 1.

Through 84 games this season, Contreras is batting .297 with 10 home runs, 51 RBI, an .804 OPS and a 2.6 WAR. He leads NL catchers in hits, doubles, total bases, RBI, batting average and OPS, on top of ranking second in home runs.

This marks Contreras' second career All-Star appearance. He also made it with the Atlanta Braves back in 2022, before the Brewers landed him.

Between Contreras and Yelich, the Brewers are one of eight teams with multiple All-Star starters. Yelich was Milwaukee's last position player to start in the Midsummer Classic, doing so in 2019, but he is their only one since 2014.

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Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.