Most families would be happy enough to have a pair of brothers playing in MLB at the same time. It doesn’t happen all that often, after all.
But the Contreras brothers -- the elder Willson and younger William -- might have just set a new bar for what’s possible in a single season for baseball siblings.
William stood at the podium Wednesday night, raising the Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy for his efforts in driving the Brewers to their first Fall Classic title. He hit .381 over the five-game series, drove in four runs, threw out four stealing Rays and dominated with the ABS Challenge System.
Waiting for William as he made his way off the podium were, of course, Willson and their middle brother Willmer. William’s family was in the stands at Tropicana Field, hanging onto the final moments before their brother made history. Then they shared an embrace on the field.
With Wednesday’s Game 5 win, William joined Willson as just the 10th set of brothers to each win a World Series. Willson did it with the Cubs as a rookie in 2016.
“My brother is my role model. I don't have a lot of friends. He's my friend. I love him,” William said. “I love all the support that he gives me. If I have something to ask somebody, I ask Willson.”
While the 2026 season ended with a championship Contreras hug, it wasn’t the only one they shared in a season that featured twists, turns and new milestones for the duo. One they won’t soon forget.
Here’s a timeline of the Contreras brothers’ top 2026 moments.
Dec. 22 (2025): Cardinals trade Willson to Red Sox
The Cardinals committed to a rebuild in 2026, headlined by a pair of marquee agreements with the Red Sox. They first shipped Sonny Gray to Boston before adding Willson in a trade that returned three prospects to St. Louis.
March 17: Venezuela tops the United States for World Baseball Classic title
Remember how we said Wednesday night was not their only championship celebration? The Contreras brothers each represented their home country in the 2026 WBC, capturing an emotional first title before the MLB regular season kicked off.
William’s Brewers teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela also played for Team Venezuela, pulling off the rare double championship. Just Alex Bregman and Luke Gregerson had completed the feat before, with Team USA and the Astros in 2017.
July 14: Willson and William play in the All-Star Game
It was Willson’s fourth trip to the Midsummer Classic and William’s third, and it was the second time they’d done so together, joining 2022. They became the fifth pair of siblings to both play in the same All-Star Game multiple times, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Here are the others:
Roberto & Sandy Alomar Jr.: 1990-92, 1996-98
Dom & Joe DiMaggio: 1941, 1949-50
Dixie Jr. & Harry Walker: 1943, 1947
Mort & Walker Cooper: 1942-43
Willson got a hit, too, pushing a ground-ball single to right field with William catching. The elder Contreras and the American League won, 4-0.
July 22: Willson and Red Sox finish 15-game win streak
Boston started its season 37-48, last in the AL East with a roster that was underperforming and injured. By the end of July, they were 58-51 and squarely back in the playoff picture. The Red Sox tied an 80-year-old franchise record by winning 15 consecutive games. Willson, an undoubted leader of this year’s team, posted a 1.230 OPS with four home runs, three doubles and 13 RBIs during the streak.
Sept. 27: Brewers set franchise record with 103 wins
The Brewers crossed the 100-win threshold for the first time in franchise history as they won the NL Central and secured the top seed in the postseason. William’s All-Star contributions played a key part, not only at the plate but also in handling a pitching staff that finished the regular season second in MLB in ERA (3.51) and strikeouts (1,544).
Oct. 3: William joins Willson with postseason home run
Though Willson’s Red Sox were swept out of the Wild Card Series by the Yankees, he capped off his career-best season (27 HR, .901 OPS) with a home run in Game 2. William joined him a few days later with the game-winning homer in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Padres.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they became the fifth pair of brothers to homer in the same postseason, joining:
Bo & Josh Naylor: 2025
Stephen & J.D. Drew: 2007
Sandy Jr. & Roberto Alomar: 1997
Ken & Clete Boyer: 1964
Oct. 28: Williams wins World Series, series MVP
William became just the seventh catcher to win World Series MVP, the first since fellow Venezuela native Salvador Perez in 2015. His October heroics extended far beyond the Fall Classic, too, carrying a 1.037 OPS amid three impactful home runs and some excellent defense.
He earned that season-ending hug from big bro. What a year for those two.