Willson Contreras Parents: Meet Olga Castillo and William Contreras, the Couple Behind the Baseball Brothers

Willson Contreras was born to Olga Castillo and William Contreras on May 13, 1992, in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. The St. Louis Cardinals catcher and his younger brother, Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras, grew up in a working-class household where both parents emphasized discipline, education, and family respect.

Olga worked as a janitor at a local school, while William Sr. was in business with his brother. They both worked long hours, which gave the three Contreras brothers, Willson, Willmer, and William, ample opportunity to sneak away from their studies to play baseball.

Olga Castillo: The Mother Who Held the Family Together

Olga Castillo is the central figure in Willson’s story. While William Sr. worked, Olga handled the discipline, helped with education, and instilled in her sons lessons on how to treat other people and respect family.

“It’s really tough to take care of three boys,” Willson said. “That was something that was a really tall task that she did. And I give thanks to her and to God for the type of family that I have and my mother.”

Willson has called his mother “the biggest thing I have” and described her as someone who “does whatever she needs to do for her children.” When he was struggling in the minor leagues, or facing a tough day in a foreign country, he knew he could always count on her.

“We want to keep having success so they can continue to be proud,” Willson said of his parents.

William Contreras Sr.: The Father Who Worked Long Hours

William Contreras Sr. worked in business with his brother in Venezuela, often putting in long hours that kept him away from home. His work ethic left an impression on Willson, who has credited his parents with teaching him the value of hard work.

In 2022, when Willson hit his 100th career home run, a grand slam against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he couldn’t wait to get home and deliver the game ball to his father. Both of his parents were staying with him at the time.

“They’re gonna cry with me because they know how hard the road was for me to get to the big leagues,” Willson said after the game. “But they’re really proud. I know they are.”

The Family’s Struggle to Get Visas

For years, Willson played in the United States while his parents remained in Venezuela, unable to secure visas to watch him play in person. Their application for a temporary visa to attend his playoff games in 2016 was unsuccessful.

Despite the distance, Willson stayed deeply involved in his parents’ well-being. He bought them a new home in a neighborhood with security guards, and he had food delivered to their doorstep so they wouldn’t have to venture to grocery stores where long lines awaited. He worried constantly about their safety in a country where kidnapping the relatives of famous baseball players was viewed as a lucrative business.

“In Venezuela, there’s nowhere where you know you’re going to be safe,” he told the Chicago Tribune in 2016.

The All-Star Game Reunion

The family’s dream came true in 2022 when Willson and William were both selected to the MLB All-Star Game, becoming just the fifth pair of brothers to play in the same Midsummer Classic. Their parents were in the stands for the moment.

“It’s going to be a dream come true to represent Venezuela, especially having Mom and Dad in the stands, and our family there,” William said ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Willson described the sacrifices his parents made for both brothers. “For them, it meant every single sacrifice that they made was worth the pain,” he said. “The education that they gave us, showing us good from bad. I can’t do anything but thank God for the parents we were given, especially my mom and dad.”

A Legacy Built on Family

Today, Olga and William Sr. spend a few months each year in the United States with their sons before returning to Venezuela. They meet up again in the offseason.

When Willson hit his 100th home run in May 2022, he thought immediately of his childhood in Puerto Cabello and the sacrifices his parents made so he could pursue his dreams.

“It means a lot,” he said. “The road is not easy, but if you put the right work in, you might get there. And today is one of those days that make me think of my childhood from where I came from and it makes me proud.”