World Series 2026: Brewers catcher William Contreras wins MVP thanks to big effort with his bat and behind the plate

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras is the World Series MVP.

The Brewers' veteran helped lead Milwaukee to the franchise's first World Series championship via a dominant effort with his bat and a standout performance behind the plate. He fought back tears after being named MVP at the conclusion of Milwaukee's 4-1 Game 5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday , which secured a 4-1 series victory.

"I don't have words to say for how I'm feeling," Contreras said after winning the award.

In five World Series games, Contreras slashed .381/.435/.429 with 2 walks, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored and 1 stolen base. He hit an RBI single in the first inning of Game 1 to spot Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in what ended up being a 3-2 win.

In the sixth inning of Wednesday's decisive Game 5, Contreras knocked in a run with a double and came around to score as the Brewers took control with a 4-0 lead.

Contreras was in control behind the plate throughout the series, as Milwaukee's pitching staff muted a hot-hitting Rays lineup, limiting Tampa Bay to 2.4 runs per game. He also set the defensive tone in Milwaukee's Game 1 win, with two caught stealings to end Rays threats.

In that one, Contreras threw Victor Mesa Jr. out at third base to end the top of the fifth with leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz at the plate. Contreras then threw Jonathan Aranda out at second to end the top of the sixth and maintain Milwaukee's 2-1 lead.

Several Brewers gave Contreras a run for MVP

Contreras topped a competitive MVP race in which as many as five Brewers had a solid case for the award.

Jackson Chourio was Milwaukee's best hitter in the series, with a .458/.458/.542 slash line and 11 total hits. His 10 hits through Game 4 tied him with Babe Ruth for the most in the first four games in World Series history.

Rookie Cooper Pratt was Milwaukee's most productive hitter, with a .421/.455/.684 slash line with 1 home run and 7 RBI. His run of six consecutive hits across Games 4 and 5 set a World Series record for a rookie.

Reliever Aaron Ashby capped one of the most dominant bullpen efforts in MLB postseason history with 5 2/3 scoreless innings across three appearances in the World Series. He finished the postseason with 18 scoreless innings across nine appearances, the most ever by a reliever in a single postseason .

And ace Jacob Misiorowski pitched 10 2/3 one-run innings across two Fall Classic starts, securing wins in Games 1 and 5. He threw 5 2/3 shutout innings to lead Milwaukee to victory on Wednesday.

But in the end, it was Contreras who earned the hardware. It was a fitting honor for the three-time All-Star, who has been with the Brewers since their run of four consecutive playoff appearances began in 2023.

The Brewers capped their historic season and a dominant postseason run with Wednesday's victory to secure the first championship in franchise history .

They led baseball with 103 wins in the regular season. Then they beat the San Diego Padres in four games in the NLDS to set up a rematch in the NLCS with a two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers team that swept them in last year's NLCS.

The Brewers proceeded to dispatch the Dodgers with a four-game sweep and needed just five games to beat the AL champion Rays. They lost two playoff games en route to their long-awaited title and finish the postseason 11-2.

There was little doubt this postseason about which team is the best in baseball, and the Brewers will return to Milwaukee to celebrate with their fans with the franchise's first championship parade.