The Cubs announced Monday afternoon C Willson Contreras and RHP Ryan Williams is the organization’s Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year for 2015.
Willson Contreras and Ryan Williams will be honored next Monday at Wrigley Field prior to the Cubs’ game against the Royals.
Willson Contreras, 23, signed with the Cubs as a free agent and played in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year old in 2009. Contreras has made a steady progression through the system, spending last year with High-A Daytona.
This season with the Smokies, Contreras hit .333/.413/.478 in 126 games with 34 doubles, four triples and eight home runs for a .891 OPS.
Contreras won the Southern League Batting Title with a .333 average. Contreras ranked second in the league in doubles, RBI and on-base percentage (.413). Contreras had the third highest slugging percentage (.478) and ranked fifth in total bases (217).
Defensively, Willson Contreras recorded a .987 fielding percentage and threw out 27-of-97 (27.8 percent) baserunners attempting to steal.
• Willson Contreras’ Page on Baseball-Reference
The Cubs selected RHP Ryan Williams, 23, in the 10th round of the 2014 draft out of East Carolina University. Williams appeared in 11 games after signing with the Cubs. Williams posted a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in two games with the AZL Cubs and nine games for Short-Season Boise.
Williams began this season with Low-A South Bend Cubs. Williams was 4-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.71 WHIP prior to his promotion to Double-A Tennessee. With South Bend, Williams allowed 12 runs, seven earned, on 36 hits with two walks and 37 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings.
In 17 games, 16 starts, for Double-A Tennessee, Williams was 10-2 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Williams gave up 29 runs, 27 earned, on 73 hits with 16 walks and 61 strikeouts.
Ryan Williams finished the season 14-3 in 26 games, 24 starts, with a 2.16 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. Williams walked 18 batters with only two home runs and 98 strikeouts in 141 2/3 innings.
During his one-plus year in the Cubs’ organization, Williams is 16-4 with a 2.03 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. Williams has 127 strikeouts and 21 walks with four home runs allowed in 168 1/3 innings.
• Ryan Williams’ Page on Baseball-Reference
Kris Bryant and Jen-Ho Tseng were the Cubs Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year for 2014. Javier Baez and Kyle Hendricks received the Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year honors in 2013.