Carlos Contreras

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #30 prospect in 2015
  Contreras has long possessed one of the better arms in the Reds system. Used as a power reliever early in his career, he moved to the rotation in 2013, but after he went on the Double-A Pensacola disabled list last season with back spasms, he moved back to the bullpen when he returned. By late June, he was working out of the big league bullpen. His big league debut was a struggle because his always-shaky control fell apart with a tighter big league strike zone. Contreras has a long arm path that hinders his control. He has a 92-94 mph fastball, a fringe-average changeup he uses against lefties and a below-average slider he spots against righthanders. Contreras' stuff is good enough to retire big league hitters if he throws strikes, but he has yet to prove he can do that. If he doesn't improve his control, he'll be stuck at Triple-A Louisville, where he could begin 2015.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 2014
  Another of a growing line of intriguing short Dominican righthanders the Reds have signed in Johnny Cueto's wake, Contreras' ERA stood at 5.98 four years into his pro career. He's a reminder that it pays to be patient with pitchers with good stuff and poor results, as he's jumped four levels the last two years while posting a 3.36 ERA. He successfully transitioned back to starting this year, allowing two runs or less while working at least five innings in his last seven starts for Double-A Pensacola. Contreras has a plus fastball that generally sits at 92-93 mph as a starter. He's complemented that with a plus changeup for several years, but this year, he also significantly sharpened his breaking ball, which enabled him to finally neutralize righthanded hitters, who had previously had their way with him. Like several other Reds starters, Contreras' arm travels a long way to get to the release point, which has hindered his control. Contreras' future is perched precariously on the edge between the rotation and the bullpen. His improved breaking ball makes a case for a future as a starter, but his shaky control makes it more likely he ends up as a power reliever, albeit one with a brighter future now that his slider is sharper.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #13 prospect in 2013
  The Reds have had to be patient with Contreras, but after struggling for most of his career, his results started to catch up to his stuff. He needed two years in the Dominican Summer League before coming to the United States, and he spent two further years in Rookie ball before making his full-season debut in 2012. He earned a late-season promotion to high Class A Bakersfield and was added to Cincinnati's 40-man roster after the season. Contreras' stuff is among the best in the system, and his 20 saves last season led the system. His fastball sits at 93-95 mph and touches 98. His changeup shows good late fade. It is a plus pitch that he trusts to throw early and late in counts. His breaking ball is much less consistent, which helps explain why he consistently puts up reverse splits--.656 career OPS against lefthanders compared to a .750 career OPS against righthanders. Contreras' delivery is long in the back, which has led to control issues and limits him to a bullpen role. He projects as a big league set-up man and will return to high Class A to open 2013.