GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Joseph Contreras remembers his early days in baseball, although at the present age of 17, they weren’t that long ago. “I’m just really happy that I kept up from a young age because sometimes I’ll be honest: I didn’t understand it at all at the beginning,” Contreras told MLB.com during a recent phone interview from his home near Atlanta. “Why do I have to work so hard or do this? “My dad always told me this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. At that age, I was the smallest, skinniest kid on the field and I wasn’t really having much success. I was like, ‘What’s the point of working hard if it’s not going to happen?’ He always instilled the discipline in me to keep going.” Contreras kept going to become a highly touted pitching prospect working toward a second straight state championship with Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, Georgia. He stands at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, is committed to Vanderbilt University and has Scott Boras as his advisor. |
But his selection to pitch for Brazil in the upcoming World Baseball Classic is of greatest current importance. It’s one of the few baseball competitions where José Contreras, Joseph’s father and accomplished 11-year MLB veteran, never had the chance to participate. “There were two events I really wish I could have played in: the World Baseball Classic and the Caribbean World Series,” José told MLB.com in the same phone interview. “But I remember when Joseph was a kid, he was always saying, ‘Don’t worry, Dad. Whatever you leave off, I’m going to pick it up.’ It’s just incredible the opportunity he’s getting.” “With all the experience that my dad got to play, he played for 27 years, the one thing he wishes he could play in was the World Baseball Classic,” Joseph added. “Just being able to play against the best of the best and the high stakes to get all the bragging rights, that’s pretty insane.” White Sox fans fondly remember José, one of the true good guys in the game, as the Game 1 starter in the 2005 ALDS, ALCS and World Series. He also hurled the ALCS-clinching complete game against the Angels, sending the White Sox to the Fall Classic. |
There were Major League appearances with the Yankees, where he started after coming from Cuba, the Phillies, the Rockies and Pirates. He pitched nine elite seasons for Pinar del Rio in Cuba, finished pitching in Mexico, and at 54, could still take the mound and go after hitters. Maybe even in the World Baseball Classic? “If they need me, I tell them I’m always ready,” said José with a laugh. “My wife and Joseph would go to the field to watch me play, and now it’s the opposite. My wife and I go to watch Joseph play.” Emotions were high for José when Joseph pitched in the ’24 Double Duty Classic at Rate Field, watching his son take the same mound where he made 75 appearances, 73 as a starter. Those emotions will run just as high when Joseph pitches during Pool B competition in Houston for Brazil, where Joseph’s mom, Isabel, was born and lived until she was 15. |
When he was first part of Brazil’s preliminary roster, Joseph wanted to see how his first few bullpens and live bullpens went before committing. If he wasn’t ready, he wasn’t ready, but he feels good. His focus is homed in on helping Brazil, even within the excitement of his senior year and a pro career not too far off in the distance. And he’ll be doing so as the youngest athlete in the WBC. “It means a lot. I didn’t think I would have such a special title,” Joseph said. “I thought I would be another guy going. I just want to use that to my advantage and be out there and attack to the best of my ability. I might be the youngest, but I don’t want to seem like the youngest on the field. I want to seem like a veteran playing the game.” “What will I feel? I’m just really proud of him for everything he’s done,” said José, when asked if he would tear up again watching Joseph pitch. “I’m proud of not only the pitcher but the young man that he’s become. I’m going to start preparing right now because I don’t want to cry in front of everyone.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
|
|
Alexei Ramirez takes the honor of the oldest WBC competitor, suiting up for Cuba at age 44. It’s the same Ramirez who told MLB.com in 2020 how he still hoped to play again, and of course, the same Ramirez who hit 109 home runs with 227 doubles and 135 stolen bases over eight seasons as primarily the White Sox shortstop. “To see him at that age playing at such a high-level event, it’s incredible. I’m so happy for him,” said José Contreras of his friend and countryman, who playfully teased the right-hander about his age on the White Sox. “It says a lot about his character and the preparation and the love for the game. “Sometimes, people don’t always want to play for the game. But at the end of the day, it’s the most important thing, playing for the love of this game.” |
• Every move made by Munetaka Murakami is a story or an attention getter. He’s the first player of that ilk on the White Sox roster since Tim Anderson in his superstar prime, with no offense to any other past or present White Sox standout. Murakami could become the fulcrum of this rebuild. • I walked out of my hotel this morning to work out at 6:30 a.m. and thought, ‘It’s kind of cold.’ I looked at my phone and saw it was 61 degrees, making me worried I would lose my Chicago tough distinction. • Justin Verlander is a fantastic addition for the Tigers, and their starting rotation is flawless. But do they have enough offense to be championship caliber, as we discussed in the pressbox Tuesday? |
|
|
“No one was interested.” – a smiling Chris Getz on whether he thought of making a WBC comeback at age 42, much like Ramirez, his double-play partner in 2009 “It’s a bunch of grown men playing like it’s the Little League World Series.” – infielder Sam Antonacci, who is playing for Team Italy, on the WBC competition |
|
|
FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW |
To subscribe to White Sox Beat, visit this page and mark "White Sox Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the White Sox or that they're checked as your favorite team. |
|
|
|
