CHICAGO — Willson Contreras enjoys playing the villain in front of the big crowds and the TV cameras. Behind the scenes, Conteras is a more complex figure, a self-made millionaire who follows his instincts, an emotional, strong-willed employee loyal to certain people, and an experienced adviser trusted by some players as a kind of big brother.
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Miguel Amaya looked up to Contreras and earned his respect, even as he worked to someday replace him at Wrigley Field. Contreras knows talent and recognizes that Amaya is well educated and from a strong family in Panama. Amaya frequently asked questions, wanting to know more about how things work in the majors.
“He has the tools to become a superstar,” Contreras said.
Contreras’ endorsement from the other side of the Cubs–Cardinals rivalry doesn’t mean as much right now as the glowing praise Amaya received from team personnel during his first week in The Show. More than wishing for a franchise player, the Cubs just hope Amaya can stay healthy because they believe he already has what it takes to become a frontline catcher. The Cubs optioned Amaya to Triple-A Iowa before Wednesday night’s game at Wrigley Field with the expectation that he will be back soon.
The Cubs couldn’t really count on Amaya, 24, heading into this year or confidently project his performance since he played in only 63 games across the last three seasons due to the lost minor-league season of 2020, Tommy John surgery and a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot. There was also a sense of urgency to properly evaluate Amaya because this season marks his final year with a minor-league option. Yan Gomes’ stint on the concussion injured list created an opportunity for a prospect with limited reps at the Double-A level.
“Miggy’s definitely put himself on the map,” said Cubs manager David Ross, an ex-catcher with strong beliefs about how the position should be played. “The thing that I’ve liked is the slow heartbeat in the big moments, being able to block the ball with the game on the line and a runner at third in extra innings, the plate discipline, the calm at-bats. He’s hit the ball hard. He’s hit the ball with power. Some of those have been caught, but it seems to be a consistent at-bat every time he’s out there. I like the way he’s preparing. I like the conversations that the pitching coaches are telling me he’s having. With his receiving skills, he looks really clean and polished back there so far.”
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“He’s a stud,” Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon said. “You can tell that he really wants to be really good and cares about his pitchers.”
“There’s no doubt it gives us a lot more confidence going forward,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said.
Amaya texted Contreras to say congratulations and good luck this past winter after Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the Cardinals that already looks like a miscalculation. In hindsight, even as the Cubs moved on from Contreras last year, they may have come up with the right plan for the All-Star catcher by reducing (but not eliminating) his workload behind the plate; increasing his role as a designated hitter to keep him energized and healthy; and investing in a defense-first catcher (Gomes) to support the pitching staff.
Contreras is such a lightning rod and the Cardinals are so polarizing that they can suddenly make subtle or boring stuff — like game calling and defensive homework — the biggest story in baseball. The Cubs went in another direction with Gomes and Tucker Barnhart, a two-time Gold Glove winner. Amaya may never reach Contreras’ offensive ceiling — and years of major-league experience are required to become an expert in certain defensive areas — but the organization sees his potential as a solid two-way catcher. When Hoyer talks about “The Next Great Cubs Team,” Amaya is a realistic name to pencil into that future lineup.
“That would be wonderful,” Hoyer said. “I’m reluctant to overstate it just because he got hurt a couple times, but I think a healthy version of him is going to play in the major leagues for a long time.”
Would Hoyer have said that a week ago? Amaya, who signed with the Cubs in 2015, is like an overnight success eight years in the making. Always regarded as mature and composed, Amaya has practical experience and better connections with pitchers and coaches at the major-league level, a deeper understanding of the team’s game-planning system, and a feel for the energy at Wrigley Field.
“It’s the same game, just a bigger stadium with more fans,” Amaya said. “You just have to breathe and focus on yourself and what you’re doing. Just trust yourself and have fun.”
(Photo of Miguel Amaya and Willson Contreras on Wednesday: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)