New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge expressed admiration for Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old pitcher representing Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic. During his appearance, Contreras pitched 1 1/3 innings and notably forced Judge into grounding out into a double play with the bases loaded. Judge’s comments emphasized the young pitcher’s poise and impressive velocity, which included fastballs reaching over 97 mph.
Contreras delivered two strikes among his first three pitches but faced some command challenges, issuing three walks while allowing two hits and one earned run. Despite those difficulties, the teenager’s ability to face high-caliber batters like Judge drew attention. Contreras is also notable for being the youngest player to participate in a WBC game since 2013 and is the son of former major league pitcher José Contreras.
Reflecting on Contreras’ performance after Team USA’s 15-5 victory over Brazil, Judge said,
“He’s facing Team USA, a lot of guys he’s probably seen on TV. But it was just impressive. Impressive to see him control himself out there and get out of a big jam. Yeah, some good stuff.”
– Aaron Judge, New York Yankees star
Looking ahead, Contreras’ experience against one of the tournament’s strongest teams might help him gain confidence. Team Brazil has a few games with winnable matchups, starting on March 7 against Team Italy, offering chances to improve their standings.
Additional Praise for Joseph Contreras From Teammates and Opponents
The admiration for Contreras extends beyond Aaron Judge to his fellow Brazilian players and even members of the opposing Team USA. His towering stature and youthful confidence impressed Dante Bichette Jr., who remarked on the young pitcher’s unique presence on the mound and mental composure, qualities difficult to instill at such a young age.
“He is like 7-foot-8 or something, so it’s funny to see him or look at him as a 17-year-old, But he’s confident — and that’s hard to teach at a young age. Maybe it’s ‘nothing to lose‘ energy, but I hope he maintains that for a long time.”
– Dante Bichette Jr., Team Brazil teammate
Meanwhile, Mark DeRosa, manager of Team USA, praised Contreras’ fastball and noted one pitch reminiscent of the technique used by his father, José Contreras.
“It’s a big heater. You see it’s 95, 97. He’s got his dad split, obviously, as well. I mean, what a position for him to be in right there. Bases loaded, Aaron Judge, and he’s able to get out of it. I would like to see another ball go over the fence, but definitely impressive what he’s able to do.”
– Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager
Joseph Contreras Shares Guidance Received From His Father
Before facing Team USA, Joseph Contreras detailed advice from his father, which has played a key role in his mental approach on the mound. The younger Contreras is evolving the signature forkball of his father’s repertoire into a vulcan forkball, a pitch he is becoming increasingly adept at throwing.
“He just told me, ‘The game does not change. Your job is still to execute the pitches. Take deep breaths. Don’t let the game speed up,’”
Joseph related.
“He just said, ‘Do what you do best, attack hitters.’”
Joseph Contreras’ ability to stay calm under pressure and his expanding pitch arsenal suggest a promising future for the young athlete. His performance against elite competition serves as a pivotal moment that may boost both his development and Team Brazil’s prospects at the tournament.
Aaron Judge was impressed by 17-year old high school senior Joseph Contreras' outing for Brazil 👏 pic.twitter.com/cITsV7ZLv7
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 7, 2026
Mark DeRosa talks about opposing pitcher Joseph Contreras, the 17-year old senior from Blessed Trinity in Georgia, Captain Aaron Judge, and SP Logan Webb 🇺🇸@Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/IxlJYYpU69
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 7, 2026
