HOUSTON — So, what did you do during your spring break in high school?
Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of former All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras, just spent Friday night dazzling the baseball world for Team Brazil against USA, pitching so well that he can brag about it to his buddies at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia.
Contreras, stepping on the same mound where his father won the 2005 World Series championship with the Chicago White Sox in Houston, faced the greatest hitters in the world and excelled.
He came into the game in the second inning, and retired Byron Buxton on a fly ball to right field, and then ran into trouble by giving up a double off the left-field wall to Brice Turang, and then issued back-to-back walks to Bobby Witt Jr and Bryce Harper to load the bases.
Next up, Aaron Judge, who just clobbered a home run in the first inning.
Gulp.
Contreras threw a 97-mph fastball past Judge for strike one. He missed with a 80-mph changeup. And came back with a 94.4-mph sinker that Judge hit to third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, who started an inning-ending double play.
Contreras danced to the dugout, his teammates all stood to congratulate him, and the professional scouts in the stands scribbled frantically.
If this kid was projected to be a second-round draft pick before the WBC, his stock just soared.
He may be committed to Vanderbilt, but after this night, well, they better come up with a whole lot more NIL money to make sure they get him.
“Can you imagine how much his stock will rise if he pitches well?’’ said FOX announcer A.J. Pierznyski, who introduced himself to Contreras, telling him that he used to catch his father.
The youngster struggled a bit in his second inning by giving up a single to Kyle Schwarber, who eventually scored on Contreras’ second wild pitch of the frame, and issued a walk to Cal Raleigh, knocking him out of the game. But the impression was made.
The kid just had a memory he’ll cherish forever.
And, oh, how his high school teammates can’t wait to hear all about that magical evening deep in the heart of Texas.
