Willson Contreras’ Cubs career officially came to an end Wednesday when the free agent catcher signed a five-year contract with the Cardinals. His departure leaves Kyle Hendricks as the last remaining member of the 2016 World Series champions to play for the North Siders.
Contreras first joined the Cub organization in 2009 as a teenaged international free agent. He made his major league debut as a pinch runner on June 17, 2016 and, two days later, became the 30th player in modern MLB history to hit a home run on the first pitch of his first major league at bat. Contreras made it on to the post-season roster and helped the Cubs end their 108-year title drought.
Contreras became the starting catcher in 2017 following the retirement of David Ross and the implosion of Miguel Montero’s Cub career in June. In 2018, Contreras was elected to his first All Star team. He replicated that feat in 2019 and 2022.
Contreras’ numbers in a Cubs uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
