350 fans meet Brewers' Contreras in Brookfield

Approximately 350 Milwaukee Brewers fans met catcher William Contreras at a Dick's Sporting Goods location in Brookfield on Sunday. Kyle Flanagan, the store's field marketing manager, provided that estimate for the number of people who interacted with the player during the event.

The gathering began at 10:30 a.m. after many attendees arrived early in the morning. A line wrapped around the building and extended into the parking lot as the crowd grew. Braeden Johnson and his sister Emmalee Johnson were the first to arrive, waiting since 4:00 a.m.

"Been here since 4 a.m. and I was tired, so I took a nap on the concrete," Braeden Johnson said. The siblings noted they had never previously met a professional athlete or received an autograph.

"We've never had the opportunity to get anything signed or to meet a player and this is really a once in a lifetime thing," Emmalee Johnson said. She added that the siblings felt lucky to secure their position before the line expanded.

Contreras discussed the weight of his recent achievement. "I feel incredible. I mean, it's something like big, important to be the MVP; but especially the trophy, the trophy for the city," he said. He described the experience as a significant honor for the franchise.

Jenzell Carrera arrived at 6:30 a.m. to participate. She told Contreras she was thanking him for playing the game and supporting the team. "I got to talk to him a little bit. I basically told him thank you for playing the game and thank you for supporting our team, and I got to shake his hand too!" Carrera said. She described the encounter as a rare chance to see the team's first franchise MVP.

Contreras expressed appreciation for the supporters. "It's beautiful, beautiful to hear everybody," he said. "Especially the young guys, and I mean, I really feel glad to be here." Fans who spoke with him reported brief exchanges, including conversations in Spanish and a fist bump.