Aweep in the life for Contreras
Catcher admits crying about All- Star honor; Giants top Cubs in 11th
SAN FRANCISCO — When Cubs catcher Willson Contreras learned Sunday morning that he was officially aNational League AllStar, he went almost immediately to the batting cage beneath the stands to hug hitting coaches Chili Davis and Andy Haines, and to tell staff assistant Juan Cabrera.
“Then I took like fiveminutes for myself,” he said.
And that’s when the tears began to flow.
“I started crying because of where I come from and all the things that I’ve been through throughout my minor- league career,” Contreras saidMonday before the Cubs lost 2- 1 to the Giants on Pablo Sandoval’s bases- loaded walkoff single in the bottom of the 11th inning. “And now I’m starting the All- Star Game. It means a lot to me.”
Contreras, in his second full year as a Cubs starter, was second in the fan voting for more than a month before passing Giants catcher Buster Posey — one of his favorite role models — in the final week for the starting nod.
Contreras found out before Monday night’s game that because of a troublesome hip, Posey would be held out of next week’s game in Washington. He said with a smile that he would ask Posey to make the trip.
“It’s been one ofmy dreams since I was kid, like playing PlayStation, and watching all those guys playing in the All- Star Game,” he said. “Now that I’mhere, I’mgoing to enjoy those three days. I’ll just try to be myself, try to enjoy as much as I can and try to meet the [ other AllStars). Now I’m going to get some time to spend with the stars.”
One byproduct of Contreras’ selection, with Posey becoming the backup, is that barely five months afterCardinals catcherYadiMolina took a shot at Contreras on social media for supposedly not showing enough respect for the old guard, Molina was left out when rosters were announced Sunday. That changed when Molina was chosen Monday night to replace Posey on the NL roster. Contreras wasn’t sure if he would tweak the veteran Molina about being a substitute.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” he said, smiling. “I haven’t talked to Yadi in awhile. I’m just happy to be named as the All- Star National League catcher for my team. It’s a blessing from God. God knows what I’ve been through with all my family. And I think staying humble means a lot to all my fans. And thanks to all my fans and my family, and my friends for giving mehuge support.”
Clearly the emotion continues to flow for Contreras, whose personal feelings will be worn on his sleeve during the game, literally. He plans to bring back the replica Venezuelan flag he used to wear as a sleeve under his uniform before he got a letter from MLB in May threatening a fine for a uniform violation.
Contreras’ heart breaks for his country, which has sunk into deeper political and economic despair. After help from Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin’s office to get his parents out of Venezuela and into the U. S. in October 2016, Contreras recently was able to help his brother escape to safety in Peru.