Chicago Cubs: Get ready for the Willson Contreras power surge

If the last week is any indication, we may be seeing a Willson Contreras power surge similar to the one that powered the Chicago Cubs late last season.

If not for a late season injury last year, Willson Contreras could have made a serious run at the National League MVP. But, despite missing time, the Chicago Cubs catcher put together an outstanding offensive performance down the stretch.

He finished the year with career-highs in home runs, RBI, OPS, slugging percentage and hits. And his abilities to stop a running game dead in its tracks are well-documented, despite some less-than-stellar pitch framing. All told, there’s a ton to love about Contreras’ game.

The Venezuelan native wears his heart on his sleeve (well, not literally anymore because of the league’s ridiculous rules on gear) – but you get the idea. The fire and passion he has for the game is clear every time he steps on the field.

With the Cubs carrying a six-game win streak into this weekend’s series against the Reds, Contreras is heating up again. All season, he’s hit well – but lacked the power we saw in 2017. Now, he’s putting it all together, just in time for the team to close out the first half on a high note.

Chicago Cubs: Team rolled as Contreras got hot

One year ago today, the Chicago Cubs sat at 42-42, 3 1/2 games out in the Central. By the time the Midsummer Classic rolled around, that deficit grew to 5 1/2 games with the Cubs two games under .500.

Panic ensued.

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That’s largely because during the 2016 championship run, the Cubs steamrolled pretty much everyone they played. For a good chunk of the season, talk of breaking the all-time win record permeated Wrigleyville bars. Instead, Chicago ‘settled’ for 103 wins, a division title and, eventually, a World Series crown.

But from the All-Star Break on last season, the Cubs got hot – and I mean hot. Chicago went 49-25 in the second half. After posting an even run differential in the first half, the club put up a +126 after the break en route to a second consecutive division crown, holding off the pesky Brewers.

And as the Cubs go, so goes Willson Contreras.

In June and July, the Chicago catcher tore the cover off the ball. For both months, he wound up with an OPS north of 1.000. He continued to hit in August, as well, but then fell victim to injury. All told, he hit around .320 for two months with an OBP pushing .380. No matter what opposing pitchers threw at him, Contreras excelled.