Right-handed pitcher Joseph Contreras will be on Brazil’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to sources close to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com.
He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher José Contreras, who made 299 appearances as a right-hander with five teams over 11 seasons from 2003-13.
The elder Contreras was born in Cuba, but Joseph’s mother was born in Brazil, per Romero.
Joseph, 17, attends Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Roswell, Ga. In September, the 6-foot-4 youngster committed to play Division I baseball at Vanderbilt University. MLB.com’s Scott Merkin wrote in February that his fastball velocity can reach 95 mph. Other pitches in his arsenal include a two-seam fastball, curveball, changeup, and a forkball.
“Yeah, he showed me,” Joseph told Merkin about José showing him how to grip the forkball. “That was the first pitch I learned to throw. Spread the fingers, grab it, and throw it.”
Romero noted in his report on X (formerly Twitter) that “several scouts believe he will be a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Contreras may be a future first-round pick, but whether he lands on Brazil’s final roster for next year’s WBC is questionable. He’s yet to pitch an inning at Vanderbilt, and leapfrogging college-level hitters to professionals is a significant jump.
Brazil’s 2026 roster will feature a few notable names, including unrestricted MLB free agent shortstop Bo Bichette. Bichette’s brother Dante, who played seven seasons in the New York Yankees’ minor league system, also intends to play.
Outfielder Lucas Ramirez, son of Manny Ramirez, went 5-for-13 at the plate for Brazil at the WBC Qualifiers and could be an impact bat near the top of the lineup come next March.
Brazil went 0-3 in their first WBC appearance in 2013 and will compete in Pool A in Houston, Texas, against the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Great Britain.
Photo: Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Championship starting pitcher Jose Contreras warms up as he prepares to throw a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
