Each day in March, NBC Sports Chicago is previewing one player from the Cubs’ expected 2020 Opening Day roster. Next up is catcher Willson Contreras.
2019 recap
Contreras became the first Cubs catcher to start back-to-back All-Star games since Gabby Hartnett (1936-37). The 27-year-old hit .272/.355/.533, posting career-highs in home runs (24), wRC+ (127) and ISO (.261).
For the second straight season, Contreras’ offensive production declined post-All-Star break. However, he missed most of August with a right hamstring strain, perhaps an explanation. (Last March, he admitted he came out of his routine and became complacent in 2018.