Contreras named Appalachian League All-Star

DANVILLE, Va. - The Appalachian League today announced its 2017 All-Star Team, with Danville Braves standout William Contreras earning honors at the catcher position on the 13-member squad.

Contreras currently boasts a .299/ .379/ .446 slash line and leads the D-Braves active roster with 27 RBI, four home runs, 70 total bases, and 21 walks drawn. He is tied for the team lead with 12 multi-hit games and is one of two D-Braves to record a four-hit game this season. Contreras owns the team's longest hitting streak of the season and the second longest in the Appalachian League, notching a hit in 14 straight games played from July 2 to July 23.
In 31 games (268.2 innings) behind the plate, Contreras has compiled a .982 fielding percentage, committing just five errors and allowing only three passed balls on the season. In 45 attempts, Contreras has caught 11 runners stealing, good for a .244 percentage, the best of the four catchers who have spent time behind the plate for the D-Braves this season.
The Atlanta Braves signed Contreras, 19, as a free agent in 2015; he spent last year with the GCL Braves before playing the entire 2017 season to date with the D-Braves. Contreras is originally from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela and is the younger brother of Chicago Cubs catcher and World Series champion Willson Contreras.
Contreras is the first D-Braves player to be named an Appalachian League All Star since 3B Jordan Edgerton in 2014. Including Contreras, Danville has had 21 players named Appalachian League All Stars since 2005.
2017 Appalachian League All-Star Team:
C: William Contreras, Danville Braves
1B: Ryan Noda, Bluefield Blue Jays
2B: Irving Lopez, Johnson City Cardinals
3B: Rigoberto Terrazas, Kingsport Mets
SS: Jose Miranda, Elizabethton Twins
DH: Luis Bandes, Johnson City Cardinals
U-OF: Edison Lantigua, Bristol Pirates
OF: Michael Gigliotti, Burlington Royals
OF: Chase Pinder, Johnson City Cardinals
OF: Wagner Lagrange, Kingsport Mets
RHP: Edwar Colina, Elizabethton Twins
LHP: Randy Pondler, Bluefield Blue Jays
Relief Pitcher: Ty Tice, Bluefield Blue Jays
U-INF: Luis Bandes, Johnson City Cardinals
Player of the Year: Ryan Noda, Bluefield Blue Jays
Pitcher of the Year: Randy Pondler, Bluefield Blue Jays
Manager of the Year: Luis Dorante, Pulaski Yankees
Trainer of the Year: Kris Russell, Princeton Rays (as announced by Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society)