The world of baseball changed when the New York Yankees signed pitcher Jose Contreras in December 2002.
The number of Cuban defectors leaving the island nation to pursue their dream of playing in Major League Baseball was small. The first World Baseball Classic (WBC) is still four years away. And the Toronto Blue Jays were not the defending American League champions.
more: Astros, Dominican Republic received bad news about their All-Stars just before the WBC.
Heading to 2026. The Blue Jays, like other teams, are closely watching the 2026 WBC to find future talent starting this week. And a certain Contreras is in the spotlight.
Jose’s son, Joseph, is a 17-year-old senior at Alpharetta High School in Georgia. He is also the youngest pitcher in the WBC and a source of great hope for the Brazilian national team. (Contreras’ mother, Isabel, is Brazilian and he has already represented Brazil at the Pan American Games.)
According to Bob Elliott ofThe Blue Jays are scouting Contreras at the tournament. They are certainly not alone.
If the slot bonus in the 2026 MLB Draft doesn’t appeal to him, Contreras has an offer to play in college at Vanderbilt. He has a fastball in the upper 90s, which is the best pitch in a 4- or 5-pitch mix that could play well in college or the pros.
Brazil plays Team USA in the WBC opener on Friday.
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