The Astros announced this morning that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Luis Contreras to the big league roster. Contreras’s first appearance will be his MLB debut. Right-hander Nick Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A in order to make room for Contreras on the roster, while Cristian Javier was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to clear a 40-man roster spot.
Contreras, 28, signed with the Brewers out of Venezuela and made his big league debut back in 2019. He worked his way through the minor leagues fairly quickly, primarily as a reliever, but seemed to hit a wall with Milwaukee upon reaching the Triple-A level. He posted an 8.00 ERA in his first cup of coffee at the level during the 2022 season, and in a larger stint at the level the following year he struggled to a fairly pedestrian 4.76 ERA in 45 1/3 innings of work. While he struck out an impressive 30.3% of batters faced during that time, his 10% walk rate and proclivity towards the long ball suggest occasionally wandering command.
The right-hander elected free agency after the 2023 season and found a minor league deal with Houston this past winter. He’s enjoyed a dominant start to the season with the Astros at their Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, pitching to a 1.40 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of work while punching out 26% of batters faced and walking 9.1%, although he has given up three home runs in that time. Even so, Contreras will now get the opportunity to showcase his stuff at the big league level, where he figures to join arms such as Tayler Scott and Seth Martinez in the middle of the Astros bullpen.
Making room for Contreras in the Astros bullpen is Hernandez, who the club acquired from the Padres in a cash deal earlier this month. The righty has just 4 2/3 big league innings under his belt this year, all of which came in Houston, and had just 3 innings of work in the majors with the Padres last year. Overall, he’s posted a 5.87 ERA with a 6.32 FIP in 7 2/3 innings of work across four appearances. The right-hander figures to return to the Triple-A level, where he sports a solid career ERA of 3.58 across parts of four seasons, and wait for his next opportunity at the big league level. As for Javier, his move to the 60-day IL is hardly a surprise given that he underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month.
Figured needed a fresh arm. Hernandez was not cutting it at moment. Try someone that seems to be a person of interest. Will he get a quick cup of coffee or longer. Seems some pitchers called up get a quick cup and back down. That one called up for an emergency start who did not fair well
Can’t remember pitcher name but he came up pitched one pitch in an extra inning game and lost it. And was sent back.
Seth and Taylor have been workhorses and more even for middle of bullpen if needed. Outside of regulars when you need to save game and more.
Any relation to Willson or William?
My favorite Contreras was Jose.
I forgot about Jose
Correction: he signed a minor league contract with Milwaukee in 2019.
He will make his big league debut when he gets into a game.
He does get a bunch of K’s in the minor leagues, and he was an interesting minor league free agent this off-season. Seems like Tom Whitsett at Sugar Land got him to tame his free passes.
Always liked this guy. Hope he gets his chance.
Probably should have been “his professional debut.”