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Cubs' David Ross: Willson Contreras' Improvement Has Been 'Tremendous'

(CBS) Cubs rookie catcher Willson Contreras continues to impress his teammates with his recent development, perhaps none more so than position-mate and elder statesman David Ross.

Contreras has been catching Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks for some time now, and he's making progress in his relationship with John Lackey as well. That's telling, because the straightforward, sometimes easily agitated Lackey holds his catchers to high standards.

At the plate, Contreras is hitting .269 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 45 games.

"He's phenomenal," Ross said on the Mully and Hanley Show on Friday morning. "He's a great player. He's going to be a huge, important part of this team. He is already, but just as he's growing, I think everybody sees who's following our team on a day-to-day basis. His at-bats are very professional already for such a young guy who's new to the league. And his catching skills and game-calling skills have improved tremendously in the time that he's been here to me. Willson's a huge part of this team, and if we want to get to our end goal, Willson's going to be a big part of it."

Listen to Ross' full interview below.

David Ross on the Mully and Hanley Show

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