| Luis Contreras | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-04-29)April 29, 1996 (age 29) Maracaibo, Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 23, 2024, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 7.50 |
| Strikeouts | 19 |
| Stats atBaseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Luis Eduardo Contreras (born April 29, 1996) is a Venezuelan professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He made hisMajor League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2024.
Contreras started his professional career in theEmpire Professional Baseball League, playing for thePuerto Rico Islanders, and leading them to a league championship title in 2018 with a 3-1 record and 1.74 ERA over 57 innings.[1]
After going unselected the2019 Major League Baseball draft, Contreras signed with theEastside Diamond Hoppers of theUnited Shore Professional Baseball League.[2] In 5 games (4 starts), Contreras compiled a 2–2 record and 4.70 ERA with 39 strikeouts and onesave across 23 innings pitched.
On June 19, 2019, Contreras signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers organization.[3] He split the campaign between the rookie–levelArizona League Brewers, Single–AWisconsin Timber Rattlers, and Double–ABiloxi Shuckers. In 16 games split between the three affiliates, Contreras accumulated a 4–4 record and 2.86 ERA with 73 strikeouts across50+1⁄3 innings pitched.[4] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Contreras returned to action with Biloxi in 2021, but only made 3 starts in which he logged a 5.19 ERA with 19 strikeouts.[6] In 2022, he made 35 appearances out of thebullpen for Biloxi and the Triple–ANashville Sounds, compiling a 3.88 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 51 innings of work.[7]
Contreras split the 2023 campaign between Biloxi and Nashville, making 39 total appearances and registering a 4–3 record and 4.55 ERA with 90 strikeouts across63+1⁄3 innings.[8] He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[9]
Contreras signed a minor league contract with theHouston Astros on November 26, 2023.[10] In 19 games for the Triple–ASugar Land Space Cowboys, he recorded a 1.40 ERA with 20 strikeouts across19+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 16, 2024, Contreras was selected to the40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11] On June 21, he was optioned back to Triple–A, without having appeared for the Astros, and briefly became aphantom ballplayer.[12] The following day, Contreras was recalled back to the major leagues.[13] He made his MLB debut on June 23.
Contreras made nine appearances for Houston in 2025, struggling to a 6.75 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings of work. Contreras wasdesignated for assignment by the Astros on August 7, 2025.[14] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land on August 9.[15] He elected free agency on November 6.[16]