ST. PETERSBURG.- William Contreras and Jackson Chourio They put the finishing touch on Wednesday to an unforgettable year for Venezuelan baseball, by leading the first title of World Series of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Contreras, elected Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the resounding victory against the Tampa Bay Raysand the young Chourio had already been part of another historical title, that of Venezuela in it World baseball classic.
The Red wine was established for the first time in the tournament in March in Miami with a memorable victory over the superteam he had formed USA to recover the scepter.
Contreras and Chourio, in addition to the reliever Antonio Senzatelathey thus became the first Latinos to win the same year the World Classic and the title of the Major Leagues.
“A very blessed year for which we have to thank God very much for everything he has been able to do for us,” Contreras said in a press conference after Milwaukee’s last victory against Tampa Bay, 4-1.
“We worked very hard for this from the beginning, in spring training until now. Being able to achieve it is special,” acknowledged the 28-year-old receiver.
The Brewers beat the Rays 4-1 on aggregate in a tie in which their Venezuelan star duo was fundamental.
Contreras, third Venezuelan MVP after Pablo Sandoval (2012) and Salvador Perez (2015), was extraordinarily effective in the numerous contests during the World Series, and on offense he accumulated eight hits and four RBIs.
The receiver, who had already won a title in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves, He merged into an emotional hug with his older brother Wilson Contreraswho ten years ago was also crowned champion with the Chicago Cubs.
Winning bet
Chourio was the other great candidate for MVP for a huge World Series for a 22-year-old player. On Tuesday he equaled a 1928 record by the legendary Babe Ruth of 10 hits in the first four games of a “Fall Classic” and on Wednesday he added an eleventh hit.
In the playoffs the hitter Maracaibo He accumulated 32 hits, a production that no player had achieved before turning 23 years old.
Chourio thus rewarded the unprecedented bet that the Brewers made on him when he was nothing more than a great promise.
At the end of 2023, Milwaukee gave him a contract for eight years and 82 million dollars, which can rise to 140 million, the most lucrative in history for a player with no experience in the competition.
“This money is not going to make me change. And if it makes me change, it will be for the better,” the prospect stated then.
At the beginning of 2024 he became the youngest player to open a season in the modern era of the Major Leagues as a starting bat for a team and shortly after, at 20 years old, the earliest Venezuelan to hit a home run.
He is currently the only player in history to record three consecutive seasons of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases before turning 23 years old.
With his ability to thrive under pressure, Chourio has already earned comparisons with the great Venezuelan legend, Miguel Cabrera.
“This kid comes to the game with a purpose. If you give him the opportunity, he’s going to hurt you. And that reminds me of Miguel Cabrera,” said the Dominican David Ortizlegend of the Boston Red Soxafter Chourio homered on the first pitch of a game in the series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
