A couple days ago I profiled the number one overall hitting prospect in the Cubs system and made the lucky guy LF Billy McKinney. When it comes to the second overall prospect, the name is much more accustomed to being up toward the top of prospect boards. Willson Contreras.
Being labeled the number two prospect in the Cubs system over the past couple of years has been nothing to scoff about (see Addison Russell and Jorge Soler) and this offseason is no different. Willson Contreras emerged over last season as a force both at the plate and behind it.
Contreras spent last season in AA Tennessee as the teams primary backstop. While getting overshadowed by a guy named Kyle Schwarber for the first half of the year, Willson did nothing but produce the entire season. Receiving awards such as the Cubs Minor League position player of the year as well as being the batting champ of the Southern League.
As mentioned, Contreras had quite the batting average at .333 but he was no slouch at anything he did. Even his 8 HRs were a nice compliment to 34 doubles. But possibly the most eye-popping stat is his strikeout and walk rates which were nearly identical, hanging around the 10% mark, both telling of the time and experience he has had throughout the system since he was 17 years old out of Venezuela. Pair all of this talent at the plate with the fact that he has all of the skill to stick behind the plate and the Cubs have a serious catching prospect on their hands.
While all of this is telling in itself, the best sign of Willy's prospects as a potential big league catcher is the compliments given by Miguel Montero. Via tweet, Montero made comments referring to Contreras being a future All Star catcher and claiming that his defense and arm may end up being the best part of his game.
With Contreras starting the year in AAA next year, he should be ready for the big time at the start of 2017 at the latest. That seems to fit in just about right with the retirement of David Ross at the conclusion of this upcoming campaign. Expect Willson Contreras to stick around Chicago for a while.
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