This was supposed to be the year Willson Contreras made the case as the best catcher on the planet.
Everything was lining up for it.
He was going into a season as the "bell cow" catcher, with no veteran like Miguel Montero or David Ross to cede playing time to.
He flashed his potential with an unreal stretch last season before getting hurt and still finished with 21 homers, 74 RBI and a .499 slugging percentage in only 377 at-bats.
He showed the swag, putting himself in the same category as Yadier Molina and Buster Posey during Cubs Convention in January.