The Milwaukee Brewers are used to being underestimated. Year after year, they consistently beat expectations — only to enter the next season with the same scenario: the national media don’t believe them.
Brice Turang just had the best offensive season of his career, winning both the Gold and Platinum Glove, yet he’s still only ranked 10th in second base. Jackson Chourio had two consecutive 20-20 seasons, a feat few young outfielders achieve, yet he’s still only ranked 9th in left fielders.
And as if to confirm that skepticism, many major bookmakers predict the Brewers will only win around 84 games in the 2026 season.
Milwaukee is no stranger to this. But this time, there’s a detail that makes the story more interesting.
In the latest catcher rankings—released by the very network that “criticized” Turang and Chourio—the Brewers finally received the respect they’ve been waiting for. William Contreras is ranked the second-best catcher in MLB.
Not a consolation prize. Not a top 5. Number 2.
The only name above him is Cal Raleigh—who just had a historic season with 60 home runs. A rare exception. And that makes Contreras’s ranking even more noteworthy.
Just a year ago, William Contreras was MLB’s number one catcher. His drop to second place isn’t due to a loss of class—but rather two concurrent factors: Raleigh’s extraordinary season, and Contreras playing almost the entire season with a broken finger on his left hand.
Despite this, Contreras still played 150 games. He finished the season with slash lines of .260/.355/.399, 17 home runs, and 76 RBIs. These aren’t headline-grabbing numbers, but in the context of injuries, they demonstrate his consistency and true value.
In his first two seasons with the Brewers, Contreras was a consistent machine:
.289/.367/.457 with 17 home runs and 78 RBIs
.281/.365/.466 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs
Two National Silver Sluggers for catcher. One All-Star. Top 5 National MVP in 2024, after finishing 11th the previous year.
This wasn’t a one-season wonder. This was a foundation.
Ironically, the recognition Contreras received only served to highlight the paradox surrounding the Brewers. If they possess the number two catcher in MLB, an elite second baseman, a 20-20 star – why are they still considered an average team?
Perhaps because Milwaukee isn’t flashy. No extravagant spending. No Twitter-explosive deals. They just…win games.
William Contreras is the perfect symbol of that reality. No glitz. No excuses. Just rankings – and the truth is undeniable.
The Brewers may continue to be underrated. But when lists like these appear, they remind us: Milwaukee doesn’t lack stars – they just lack attention.
And sometimes, that’s the most dangerous thing for the rest of MLB.
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