Summary
A 17-year-old pitcher from Brazil, Joseph Contreras, made headlines at the World Baseball Classic by managing to retire Aaron Judge, a top U.S. baseball player, in a surprising play. Contreras is notable for being the youngest player in the tournament and is connected to baseball through his father, a former MLB pitcher.
Key Facts
- Joseph Contreras is a 17-year-old Brazilian pitcher and the son of former MLB pitcher José Contreras.
- Contreras plays for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic and is the youngest player in the tournament's history.
- He successfully retired Aaron Judge, a leading player for Team USA, by forcing him into a double play with bases loaded.
- Contreras threw pitches that reached speeds of 95 to 97 mph.
- Mark DeRosa, Team USA's manager, knows Contreras as his son competes in the same high school circuit.
- Contreras is ranked as the No. 47 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft.
- He allowed just one run in his 1.1 innings pitched during his outing against Team USA.
