Joseph Contreras found himself in an unusual position for a high school baseball player last month. The
Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.) senior pitcher was on Brazil’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, making him the youngest player in the tournament at 17 years and 10 months.
Despite still pitching in high school and being committed to Vanderbilt, Contreras got an early opportunity against Team USA. In his debut, he entered in the second inning and allowed a double and two walks before settling in. Facing Aaron Judge, Contreras threw a 94.4-mile per hour sinker that resulted in an inning-ending double play. He finished the outing with 1.1 innings pitched and showed a fastball that reached over 97.
Contreras’ path to the World Baseball Classic came through his background. His mother is Brazilian and he has pitched for the South American country's junior national teams. When Brazil qualified for the tournament, he was eligible to join the roster.
Joseph Contreras talks with coaches prior to last summer's Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego. At Blessed Trinity this spring, he strung together 13.1 consecutive no-hit innings. (PHOTO: Steven Silva)
According to Blessed Trinity head coach
Jamie Wagner, the timing worked out well with the team’s schedule.
"It just so happened that we only had one non-region game scheduled for the week of the WBC, which he was never going to pitch in," Wagner said. "It all kind of fell in place."
Wagner also pointed out that Brazil’s opening game against Team USA took place on the same field where Contreras’ father, José Contreras, won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox.
José Contreras played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 2003 to 2013, finishing with a 78–67 record, a 4.57 ERA and 889 strikeouts. He was an All-Star in 2006 and a key part of the 2005 World Series championship team.
At Blessed Trinity, he now serves as the pitching coach. He joined the staff during Joseph’s junior year but only after his son had already adjusted to the program.
"He wanted Joseph to get acclimated with his coaches, teammates and school before he came aboard," Wagner said. "When he did, our pitching staff took off."
Joseph has been at Blessed Trinity for five years and did not start out primarily as a pitcher.
"He’s been with us since eighth grade, predominantly as a shortstop," Wagner said. "As a pitcher early on, he took some lumps and had some control issues, like all young pitchers do."
Over time, his development became more consistent. The coaching staff focused on helping him compete on the mound while refining his natural ability.
"The ball naturally jumped out of his hand," Wagner said. "Mechanically, he was born with that arm."
This season, Contreras has been one of the team's top pitchers. He has a 3–1 record with a 2.10 ERA over 26.2 innings, allowing just six hits while striking out 44 batters.
He also put together two notable outings around his World Baseball Classic appearance. He threw seven no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts against Helena (Ala.) on Feb. 27 then followed it with five no-hit innings and nine strikeouts against Westminster on March 17. In total, he recorded 13.1 consecutive no-hit innings.
Even with the international experience, his day-to-day routine has stayed mostly the same. At Blessed Trinity practices, he continues to work with his coaches, including his father, who balances being both a parent and part of the staff.
According to Wagner, José has had a positive impact on the program overall.
"He is a heck of a coach," Wagner said. "One of the nicest, gracious human beings you will ever meet."
Looking ahead, Contreras is considered a top prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft, projected in the 34–47 range. For now, he continues to split his time between high school baseball and opportunities like the World Baseball Classic, gaining experience while still early in his career.
