Efrain

Contreras

Contreras has yet to appear in the big leagues after spending the first seven years of his career between the Padres and Phillies. The 25-year-old righty struggled to a bloated 9.67 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 51/24 K/BB ratio across 44 2/3 innings (14 appearances, eight starts) last year for Double-A Reading in Philadelphia’s system. He’s merely an experimental lottery ticket for the Padres at this stage of his career.

It’s unclear whether or not the 23-year-old right-hander will also receive an invitation to big league camp. Contreras spent his first seven seasons in the Padres’ organization. In 2023, he compiled a 4.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 117/49 K/BB ratio over 97 innings of work in 35 appearances (17 starts) at Double-A San Antonio. He’ll add depth in the upper minors for the Phillies

Contreras was non-tendered by the Padres earlier this month and has elected to stick around on a new deal. 22-year-old right-hander is no longer on the club’s 40-man roster and represents organizational starting pitching depth at this stage in his development.

Contreras got added to the 40-man a year ago even though he missed all of 2021 following Tommy John surgery. He returned last season, but the Padres obviously weren’t particularly impressed by what they saw while he posted a 5.74 ERA in 53 innings for high-A Fort Wayne. He still could be re-signed to a minor league deal.

Contreras has been added to the Padres’ 40-man roster and will be protected from selection in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. The 21-year-old righty missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery last fall.