Cubs News: Contreras named to his first All-Star game |
Cubs catcher
Willson Contreras was named to his first All-Star game as the starting catcher during an ESPN announcement show on Sunday night.
Contreras finished with 2,172,682 votes that surpassed Giants' Buster Posey's 1,918,966 votes. He is the first Cubs catcher to be voted into the midseason classic since Geovany Soto in 2008. For the season, Contreras is batting .287 with seven homers and 34 RBI. On defense, he has picked off four base runners this season. Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinks highly of Contreras as he told reporters on Sunday. "Now he (Contreras) is the best catcher in the National League," Maddon said. "I think he's the best catcher in baseball." Contreras was so moved by the fans voting him in that he got emotional in the batting cages today. "It took me by surprise," Contreras told reporters via 670 The Score. "I knew that today, they were going to tell me something about if I was going to make it or not. But you know, I'm so glad, I'm so happy to be selected for the fans. And being there means a lot to me. I have to be thankful for God first for giving me the help throughout the whole year. I thank the fans. I thank my family and friends. They give me that big support to be there. My first reaction was like I have no words to say. I started crying when I went down to the cage because that's what I worked for and I've been working hard every single game. I play every game like it is my last one." His teammates Javier Baez and Jon Lester will also be heading to Washington, D.C. to the prestigious event. .@WContreras40: IN. pic.twitter.com/A5gOIzHyBK We’ve got a first-timer out here! Your 2018 National League All-Star starters! pic.twitter.com/IzQvko1MQj
@WContreras40 makes his first All-Star team as he’s voted in as the starting NL catcher. pic.twitter.com/EHeInXTvqd
