Da Windy City
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Chicago Cubs provided great moments to fans in 2016

By Carlos Nazario

Sep 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is doused with beer in the locker room after the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs clinched the National League Central Division championship. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is doused with beer in the locker room after the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs clinched the National League Central Division championship. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Willson Contreras homers on the first major league pitch he sees

The Cubs front office did a great job of drafting some of the top prospects in all of baseball. Many of them matured at the same time, giving the team not only a great team this season but also some great teams for the foreseeable future.

One of those great prospects was catcher Willson Contreras.

After the promotion last season of Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber, Contreras was the Cubs’ top prospect.

In 2015 at Class-AA Tennessee, he hit .327/.407/.485 with 11 homers and 83 RBI in 140 games. In 2016, he moved up to Class-AAA Iowa, and really hit the ball. He hit .353/.442/.593 with 9 homers and 43 RBI in just 55 games. He led the Pacific Coast League in batting average before the Cubs promoted him to the majors.

It was June 19th, and the Cubs were facing the Pittsburgh Pirates on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Contreras came in to pinch hit. He received a standing ovation from the Wrigley faithful, who knew that this was another one of Theo’s super kids.

It did not take long for Contreras to really get the crowd going. He swung at the first major league pitch he saw and deposited into the bleachers.

One pitch, one homer. Contreras thought this major league baseball thing was easy.

Contreras played an integral part of the Cubs’ winning season. He hit .282/.357/.488 with 12 homers and 35 RBI. His OPS+ was 125. His homer, however, signaled that whatever move the Cubs made with their players turned out well. By doing it on the national stage, the country saw what Chicago fans had for some time.

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