Oh, the stories Joseph Contreras will be able to tell when he returns to high school after the World Baseball Classic.
While getting to pitch for Team Brazil in the best-on-best event is surely an incredible experience by itself for the 17-year-old right-hander, nothing may top his second-inning escape against the U.S.
With Brazil trailing 2-1, Contreras entered to open the frame and immediately forced all-star Byron Buxton to line out.
He then ran into some trouble, allowing Brice Turang, Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper all to reach, loading the bases for three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who had already homered in the first inning.
But instead of shying away from the moment, Contreras went right after the future Hall of Famer. The high-schooler began the plate appearance by getting Judge to swing through a 96.9 m.p.h. fastball at the top of the zone before missing inside with a changeup.
On the third pitch of the at-bat, Contreras ran a sinker in on Judge's hands, drawing a swing from the American captain that splintered his bat and sent a weak ground ball to third for an inning-ending double play — sending the baseball world into a frenzy.
"I know I wasn't doing that at 17 years old, that's for sure," Judge said post-game. "Just great stuff. I feel like he had some poise on the mound. He's throwing up to 100 miles-per-hour. He's facing Team USA, a lot of guys he's probably seen on TV.
"It was just impressive to see him control himself out there and get out of a big jam."
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Contreras ultimately came back out for the third inning. He gave up a single to Kyle Schwarber, who eventually came around to score, induced a groundout off the bat of Alex Bregman and walked Cal Raleigh as his outing came to an end.
"It's a big heater, you see it. It's 95 to 97," Team USA manager Mark DeRosa told Fox's Ken Rosenthal of Contreras on the broadcast. "He's got his dad's split, obviously. What a position for him to be in right there. Bases loaded, (facing) Aaron Judge, and he's able to get out of it.
"I would have liked to see another ball to go over the fence, but definitely impressive what he's able to do."
It's a moment that would likely only be possible in a tournament like the WBC, where David frequently gets its shot at taking down Goliath.
For his part in the story, Contreras is certainly no slouch among his peers. MLB Pipeline has the six-foot-four hurler ranked as the No. 47 prospect for the upcoming draft. But it'd be hard to draw up a more lopsided matchup than Judge — owner of 368 career MLB home runs and numerous accolades — against a teenager who has yet to take 18 spins around the sun.
Contreras is also the son of former MLB all-star José Contreras, who spent 10 seasons in the majors and won the 2005 World Series with the Chicago White Sox.
There's no doubt the baseball world will hear plenty more from Joseph as he prepares for the 2026 draft.
And for Toronto Blue Jays fans, perhaps the promising righty will end up north of the border.
Bob Elliott of Canadian Baseball Network reported Thursday that the Blue Jays have been evaluating Contreras in preparation for the draft. Toronto's first selection in July comes at No. 39 after its run to the World Series.
