Contreras makes mark on World Series as rare rookie catcher

CLEVELAND – Even in the ultimate present-tense moment of Game 7 of the World Series, it was hard not to see some significant future moments in at least one lineup decision by Joe Maddon Wednesday.

The Cubs manager didn’t hesitate to start rookie catcher Willson Contreras over, say, World Series veteran David Ross after Contreras had spent the last four months as an especially effective batterymate for starter Kyle Hendricks.

“I thought about it before the whole thing began, not just [Tuesday],” said Maddon of a move that was historically rare.

Contreras, a converted minor-league third baseman who debuted in June, started five World Series games, most for a rookie catcher since Buster Posey in 2010. Only four rookie catchers made more World Series starts, none since Red Hayworth of the St. Louis Browns in 1944.

“This goes back to spring training when I met him for the first time,” Maddon said. “Theo [Epstein] and Jed [Hoyer] are telling me we need to get him involved with our veteran pitchers because he’s going to be up here at some point this season, and he’s going to help us win.”

Contreras homered in his first at-bat, June 19. He hit .282 with 12 home runs and an .845 OPS in 283 plate appearances as the Cubs built him up to big-league speed, then backed him off in September for the playoff run.

On Wednesday night, he drove a two-out double off the wall in right-center for an RBI in the fourth that gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

His growth as a receiver might be more impressive than his big bat and much, much bigger arm.

“He’s a good study. He knows what he’s doing out there,” Maddon said. “He’s passionate about his job and very bright. His ability to retain information is outstanding. Year in progress, he got better at receiving and he’s really good at blocking.

“I’ve seen him develop good relationships with the [pitchers]. The guys trust him a lot. He’s made progress in probably every area of the game.”

With Ross retiring and Schwarber’s return from that six-month knee injury likely reducing his already limited catching time, next year’s catching corps figures to comprise Contreras and veteran Miguel Montero.

The Cubs expect Contreras to be the starter.

“He’s definitely the kind of a guy that’s going to handle a heavy workload behind the plate,” said Maddon, a former minor-league catcher. “I don’t know exactly that that means right now, but I do know it’ll be more next year than it is now.”

Catching Hellfire

The Cubs’ Willson Contreras is tied for most World Series starts by a rookie catcher since 1944. The all-time leaders:

Year GS Result