Contreras on framing: 'Now what are they going to say?' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Since making his MLB debut in 2016, Willson Contreras has established himself as one of the best catchers in baseball.
Contreras, 28, is one of the most athletic backstops in baseball. He has a big arm behind the plate to control opposing run games. He has strong rapport with the Cubs pitching staff. His offensive abilities have always been a strength, and he's a key figure in the Cubs' lineup.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
One component of Contreras' game that has drawn scrutiny in the past was his pitch framing. That is, until last season, when the two-time All-Star starter was nominated for a National League Gold Glove Award, in part due to his improvement in that area..
MORE: Film study: Framing raised Contreras into Gold Glove contention
"It made me feel good because the year before everybody questioned me," Contreras said over Zoom on Saturday. "'Can you frame a pitch?' I was like, 'Yeah, of course.'"
Contreras has steadily improved his framing since 2018, when he finished 55th among qualified backstops in Statcast's catcher framing rankings. In 2019, he was 45th, jumping all the way to 11th in 2020.
"Last year, I put my focus on it and you saw what I was able to do with the pitch framing," he said. "[My improvement] makes me feel good.
"Now what are they going to say [about my game]?"
Click here to subscribe to the Cubs Talk Podcast for free.
