Fourth catcher, anyone? Contreras pushing for 2016 debut

PHILADELPHIA – Now that Albert Almora Jr. has made his big-league debut for the Cubs, can Willson Contreras far behind?

“I’ve heard nothing but good stuff,” manager Joe Maddon said of the Cubs’ top prospect in the upper minors. “You’ll see him here at some point [this year], I’m certain of that.”

And if the Cubs front office has shown anything since the big-league team turned that competitive corner last year, it’s a willingness to push its top-performing prospects when a need arises.

Fourth catcher, anyone?

Contreras, the No. 1 or 2 catching prospect in the game, depending on the ranking, doesn’t fit on a catcher-bloated Cubs roster that is built as much for run prevention as scoring.

But last year’s Southern League batting champion looks like a threat for the Pacific Coast League crown even as he focuses more on his receiving skills this year — while knocking louder on the door for a big-league debut.

‘He’s doing everything properly. I’m hearing a lot about his defense,” said Maddon of his projected catcher of the future, who’s expected to become a part of the catching corps next year after David Ross’ retirement.

“The big thing with us is you can see our pitching staff’s doing so well, and how much do our catchers have to do with that?” Maddon added. “There are some veteran catchers back there now that can really help pitchers. … But I’ve heard nothing but glowing reports about him.

Of course, the last time the Cubs called up a top catching prospect, it ignited the team to a 50-25 finish and a deep October run. Then, again, the Cubs aren’t starving for a bat; nobody’s comparing Contreras to Kyle Schwarber; and unless somebody gets hurt there’s no place to fit him.

So Contreras, who got a couple days off this week to nurse a sore foot, heads into the weekend with a .343 average, nine homers and 1.026 OPS. And waits for his chance.

“I’m patient because I know who I am, and I’m having a good season,” he told the Des Moines Register this week. “So sooner or later they have to do something.

“As soon as I get there, I will never be back.”