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Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of José Ariel Contreras, impressed with his sustained speed and control of the strike zone, in his debut with Brazil at the World Baseball Classic.
The son of the Pinar professional threw a fastball above 90 mph and allowed one earned run in 1⅓ innings.
As reported by journalist Francys Romero, after two outs, Contreras "got Aaron Judge to hit a 94.4 mph sinker for a double play."
In the post-game press conference, Judge expressed his admiration for the precocity and talent of this son of a Cuban father and a Brazilian mother.
"He's only 17 years old, 304 days, and is the youngest pitcher in the WBC. He's in high school. How can we not be romantic about baseball? Despite his brief appearance, Contreras' performance was impressive," Romero commented about a display that has amazed the baseball world.
The U.S., one of the favorites to win the tournament, decisively defeated Brazil with a score of 15 runs to 5.
A prospect to consider
Joseph Contreras, son of the iconic Cuban pitcher José Ariel Contreras, is drawing attention in American baseball, at just 17 years old and possessing an ideal physique to shine from the "mound of sighs."
The young pitcher is regarded as an elite arm for the upcoming MLB Draft in June, thanks to his power and potential as a starter.
Among its most notable tools are: fastballs exceeding 95 miles per hour, a full repertoire in development, and a projected profile as a Major League starter.
The young pitcher, who was born on American soil, has showcased impressive talent at the High School level, where his fastball reaches between 91 and 94 miles per hour, complemented by a powerful slider, reported specialized journalist Francys Romero on his social media.
With an imposing height of 6’4” and a weight of 195 pounds, Joseph follows in his father's footsteps, who is regarded as one of the best pitchers in the history of Cuban baseball.
The son of a star
José Ariel Contreras shone in national tournaments and represented the island in various foreign events before leaving his homeland and arriving in the Major Leagues, where he also made his mark.
The highlight of his MLB career came in 2005, when he played a key role in winning the World Series title with the Chicago White Sox, ending an 88-year championship drought for the franchise.
Now, with Joseph showcasing great potential on the mound, many observers are wondering if the Contreras name will shine again at the highest level of baseball. In fact, in April 2024, it was announced that Joseph signed a contract with Scott Boras, regarded as the best agent in baseball.
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