Contreras, Williams capture Cubs awards

It's an exciting September on the North Side, and on Monday night, Cubs fans were shown that the future should only get brighter. 

Catcher Willson Contreras and right-hander Ryan Williams, the Cubs' No. 10 and 30 prospects respectively, were named the organization's Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year in a pregame ceremony in Chicago. The trip to Wrigley Field was a first for the duo, who were teammates this season with Double-A Tennessee.

"Throughout the whole year, we've kind of joked around," Williams told MLB.com. "When I got to Tennessee, [Contreras] was one of the first people I got to know. It's been awesome to go through the season with him. It's definitely special to have him be a part of [today]."

Congrats to Willson Contreras (@noslliw19) & Ryan Williams (@Rhynowilliams), our MiLB Player & Pitcher of the Year! pic.twitter.com/oTvoNJaeZ1

- Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 28, 2015

The versatile Contreras has played all over the diamond in his professional career, seeing action defensively everywhere but center field and shortstop since signing with the Cubs in 2009. This year, the 23-year-old settled mostly behind the plate, where he played 75 of his 126 games. He served as a designated hitter for 38 more and played at the hot corner eight times. At the dish, Contreras batted .333/.413/.478 -- by far his best professional marks -- with eight homers and a career-high 75 RBIs. The Venezuelan backstop captured the Southern League batting title and was named to the circuit's midseason and end-of-season All-Star teams.

"I still can't believe what I did this year," Contreras told MLB.com. "When I won the batting title, I went to my room and looked at the numbers, and I said, 'Oh my God, what are these numbers?' It was just the hard work that I did, and I will keep working."

Williams was so good with Class A South Bend to start the year, going 4-1 with a 1.17 ERA in nine outings, that he leapfrogged a level and landed in Tennessee. With the Smokies, the East Carolina product went 10-2 with a 2.76 mark. His 14 total wins and combined 2.16 ERA led all Cubs farmhands. Williams struck out 98 batters while walking just 18 over 141 2/3 innings.

"I didn't want to be that person to look back at what I did," Williams told MLB.com. "I kinda set goals before the year, so it was more of a checklist of where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. So it was nice to stop the season and kind of look back."

Williams earned plaudits from his batterymate as well.

"He's a really good guy," Contreras told MLB.com. "We really communicate well with each other, and we've been like brothers for the whole season."

Contreras will aim to build on his breakout campaign when he takes part in the Cubs' instructional league in Arizona to start his offseason.