William Contreras was undoubtedly the Milwaukee Brewers MVP in Game 1 of the World Series.
Contreras had an RBI single in the first inning, a walk in the sixth inning and another base hit in the eighth inning. Defensively, he caught two runners stealing to end innings and won two ABS challenges.
He became the best catcher this century to have multiple caught stealings and hits in a World Series game, per MLB Network's Sarah Langs. Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees was the last player to achieve that feat.
Girardi did it in Game 3 of the 1999 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. It had been 27 years since a catcher had a game like that, and Contreras seemed due to break the drought.
He was the best catcher in the regular season at catching runners, and the Tampa Bay Rays are a team that likes to run. Something had to give, and it was Contreras who came out on top.
At the plate, he continued a red-hot October, and the Brewers will need him to continue his hitting ways for the rest of the series. The Brewers can go up 2-0 on the Rays on Saturday, and if Contreras is swinging the bat as he has been, there is really no pitcher who is going to give him problems.
The Rays are expected to stay aggressive on the basepaths, so Contreras' arm will continue to be tested. In Game 1, he changed the complexion of the game by erasing baserunners, and could do the same in Game 2.