By Eric Katz
Last season was a bit of a down year for William Contreras. He first got off to an
uncharacteristically slow start. It certainly didn’t help that he played through a finger injury on
his left hand. However, the 27-year-old had a strong second half of the regular season and even
carried that performance into the postseason. When the season concluded, Contreras’s
statistics were close to what he did in 2023. I believe William Contreras will have a bounce-back
year in 2025.
The 2025 season was somewhat of a tough year for William Contreras. Contreras got off to an
uncharacteristically slow start that plagued him for most of the first half of the season. Before
the All-Star break, the Brewers’ star slashed .245/.351/.347 with just six home runs, 37 RBI, and
an OPS of .698. Further hindering his performance was the fact that he was playing with a
fractured middle finger in his left hand. The 27-year-old would finish 2025 slashing
.260/.355/.399 with just 17 homers, 76 RBI, and an OPS of .754, a sharp regression from 2024.
Although his final statistics were similar to how he finished the 2023 season.
However, after the All-Star break concluded, the 27-year-old returned to all-star form. During
that span, William Contreras hit a scorching .281/.361/.472 with 11 home runs, 39 RBI, and an
OPS of .833. His second-half surge helped Milwaukee have the best record in baseball and
clinch the NL Central for the third straight year. His hot bat also carried over into the
postseason. In the NLDS against the Cubs, Contreras slashed .300/.333/.650 and hit two home
runs, including a go-ahead shot in game five, helping the Brewers eliminate Chicago and
advance to the NLCS.
Despite the down year, one of William Contreras’s strengths as a hitter is that he’s constantly
trying to refine his approach. His walk rate has gradually increased every season. This shows
that the 27-year-old is not stubborn in his approach and is willing to make adjustments. If he
can continue this trend, this can offset slumps and increase his on-base percentage, which
would greatly help his power numbers. A down year is often an anomaly for a talented player
like Contreras.
The Brewers recently declined Contreras’s $12 million option and are opting to take advantage
of his last two years of team control. The team is banking on having favorable outcomes in
arbitration. The 27-year-old also had finger surgery this offseason and is expected to be ready
for spring training. With a healthy finger and seemingly more added motivation, this gives us
another reason why he’ll be a major offensive threat again.
Top prospect Jefferson Quero is currently projected to be the Brewers’ backup catcher next
season. Contreras has shown that he can be a designated hitter. This could mean that the 27-
year-old might see less time behind the plate, which in turn will keep him fresher during the
year. This could potentially lead to more consistent results offensively.
The down season that William Contreras had in 2025 is an anomaly. The 27-year-old has too
strong a track record for this to become a trend. After all, the former all-star bounced back in
the second half of the season and even carried that momentum into the postseason. The
Brewers will certainly be relying on him to be an RBI threat in the middle of the lineup this
season. Given he’s expected to be healthy in the spring, constantly adjusting at the plate,
possibly less time behind the plate, and extra motivation from losing $12 million, William
Contreras will have a big year in 2026.
