The Cubs’ Willson Contreras
What can I say about Willson Contreras that not already been said? He’s crushing the ball through his first 13 games. His hard-hit rate is 71.4%. In comparison, Nolan Arenado’s hard-hit rate was 42.5% for 2019. His BB% is 2.0, while his strikeout rate is 36.0%. Still, Contreras is laying the lumber to the pitches he’s seen.
Defensively, he’s got a cannon. He doesn’t know where it will go. His caught stealing percentage is 25–the lowest of his career. But he catches Lester, which is ‘bad’ for him. Still, 25% is average. Picking one out of four? I’ll take it.
He has a slash of .311/.360/.556 with an OPS of.916–plus an OPS+ of 149. He doesn’t walk as much and he strikes A LOT. But still, he’s hitting for average, and that’s all you can ask.