Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras is learning how to keep hitting the ball hard while dealing with a fractured left middle finger.
Contreras has been playing through the injury for much of the season, which has impacted the hitting production of one of the game’s top catchers, but he has turned a corner lately.
The two-time All-Star on Monday went four for four with a pair of doubles and hit a tiebreaking two-out RBI single in the eighth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers’ 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He has gone nine for 16 at the plate over his past five games.
Photo:AP
“It’s been the William Contreras who finished in the top five of the MVP [Most Valuable Player] voting last year,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
Contreras ranked fifth in the MVP balloting after leading Milwaukee to a second straight National League Central title last year.
Contreras understands how much he means to this team, which helps explain why he has continued to play just about every day even while facing the injury.
“I’ve worked too hard to miss a day,” Contreras said. “I don’t want to take two or three months off.”
Teammates appreciate Contreras’ ability to play through pain. Contreras has missed just three of Milwaukee’s first 48 games this season after playing 155 games last year. Even when he is not catching, Contreras typically remains in the lineup as a designated hitter.
“It really shows his passion to one, play the game, and also about how important he thinks winning is, and how badly he wants to win,” pitcher Quinn Priester said.
Elsewhere, the Marlins edged the Cubs 8-7, the Phillies routed the Rockies 9-3, the Reds sank the Pirates 7-1, the Red Sox mastered the Mets 3-1, the Astros stung the Rays 4-3, the Mariners whipped the White Sox 5-1, the Cardinals tamed the Tigers 11-4, the Diamondbacks downed the Dodgers 9-5 and the Angels overcame the Athletics 4-3.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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