Roansy Contreras

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #4 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Contreras raised his stock as much as any pitching prospect in 2021, gains initially set in motion while he was still in the Yankees’ system. His improvement continued when the Pirates acquired him after the 2020 season in the trade that sent Jameson Taillon to New York. Contreras struck out 36% of batters as he rifled through Double-A and Triple-A, though he missed two months with a forearm strain. Contreras returned in September and continued to impress, culminating in his MLB debut with the Pirates at the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Contreras has worked diligently to add strength and refine his pitch mix, and the result is an attack rooted in brute force. His fastball now tops out at 98 mph after operating primarily in the low 90s with the Yankees, and it explodes out of his hand at an angle that confuses hitters. He added a slider late in his tenure with the Yankees, giving him two distinct breaking balls, and both flash plus albeit with inconsistent command. Even his changeup, which he uses less frequently, has above-average potential. The Pirates worked with Contreras to better sync the release point of his breaking pitches with his fastball, unlocking more deception and improved spin rates on his curveball, which now tickles 2,900 rpm with better depth. Contreras’ command wavers when he gets over-aggressive with his delivery, but his athleticism allows him to make adjustments on the fly. The larger concern is whether the 6-foot Contreras can sustain hold up under a starter’s workload for a full season.
  
  The Future: Contreras will enter spring training with a chance to win a spot in the Pirates’ rotation. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Though the Yankees were in the international penalty box in 2016, they still unearthed several gems in Jose Devers (since traded to Miami), Oswald Peraza and Contreras, who was a product of the same training program in the Dominican Republic that produced Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. Contreras was part of a talented group of pitchers at low Class A Charleston in 2019 but was not brought to the Yankees alternate training site in 2020. The Pirates acquired him as one of four players for Jameson Taillon after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras showed a small uptick in his velocity and averaged 95 mph on his fastball in spring training before camps shut down. The development of his breaking ball will be key. It's been more of an inconsistent slurve in the past, but he worked to make it more of a firm slider during limited time in 2020. His well-regarded changeup features both horizontal and vertical movement and is thrown with enough confidence to be effective against both righties and lefties. He's shown above-average control at every stop in the minors so far.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras worked remotely with Yankees pitching coach Dustin Glant during the shutdown and should be in decent pitching shape despite the lost year of development. He has back-of-the-rotation potential if his breaking ball comes along.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #8 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees were still in the international penalty box in 2016 but unearthed Contreras and signed him for $250,000. He experienced a bit of a breakout in 2018, when he ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the New York-Penn League after a strong performance in a typically college-heavy league before moving to low Class A Charleston and holding his own for seven starts. He is a product of the same Dominican program that produced Miguel Andujar and Gary Sanchez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras was easily the most consistent piece of Charleston's extremely talented rotation and has as high an upside as anyone not named Luis Medina. He starts his arsenal with a low-90s fastball that can get to the mid-90s fairly consistently. The pitch is relatively straight but is thrown with considerable extension and downhill plane that somewhat mitigate the lack of movement. His best secondary offering is power changeup with sinking action thrown in the 85-89 mph range and sold well because it's thrown with the same conviction as his fastball. His curveball, a slurvy offering in the low 80s, is thrown with more consistent spin than the breaking balls of his rotation-mates in Charleston. Scouts noted more consistent hand position on the curveball led to a more consistent, higher quality offering. Contreras also impressed evaluators with his feel to pitch as situations dictated.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras will move to high Class A Tampa in 2020. Scouts who like him see a solid backend starter with a ceiling of a No. 3 if absolutely everything goes right.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Yankees were in the international penalty phase in 2016, meaning they could not sign any player for more than $300,000. Even so, their scouts found Contreras and signed him for $250,000. He trained with Basilio Vizcaino, otherwise known as Cachaza, who trained current Yankees Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. The Yankees liked Contreras for his smooth arm action and relatively easy delivery, which at the time produced 88-91 fastballs.
  
  Scouting Report: After a first pro season split between the Dominican Summer League and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Contreras moved to the short-season New York-Penn League halfway through 2018. With Staten Island, he showed the makings of a solid three-pitch mix headed by a fastball in the 91-94 mph range with hints of 96. The pitch featured running life to both sides of the plate. His best secondary pitch was a 78-81 mph downer curveball that was inconsistent but had the potential to be above-average once he gained the feel necessary to spin it more consistently. His third pitch is a mid-80s changeup with average sinking action when he keeps it down in the zone. There’s still projectability left in his body, which scouts believe could be the difference between a back-end starter or a mid-rotation piece.
  
  The Future: Contreras so thoroughly dominated at Staten Island that he moved up to low Class A Charleston toward the end of the season. He’ll likely return there in 2019.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2019
  Lining up the Charleston staff based on future potential was difficult, as almost every coach and evaluator consulted had a different order. Roansy Contreras has the most polish. Alexander Vizcaino's changeup may be the best pitch of the four. Luis Gil may have the easiest delivery, and Luis Medina has the most jaw-dropping stuff. Contreras has the best combination of stuff and feel. His plus, 92-96 mph fastball pairs well with his plus, 86-89 mph changeup and average curveball. Contreras has shown that he understands how to work out of jams. Unlike many young pitchers, he doesn't just try to throw harder when he gets in trouble—he'll mix in a changeup in those situations to get an aggressive hitter to get himself out. He has average control now and projects to have future above-average control. Contreras does not have much—or any—projection remaining, and there are some scouts who still see the 6-foot righthander as a future reliever, but most project him as a solid No. 4 starter.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #5 prospect in 2018
  The Yankees signed Contreras in 2016 despite being in the second year of their international penalty period (during which teams are prohibited from spending more than $300,000 on a player) and bought into him thanks a live arm, a strong lower half and an impressive fastball-curveball combination. He made it to low Class A in 2018, and he was the youngest pitcher in both the New York-Penn and South Atlantic leagues this season. Contreras, who has added 22 pounds since signing, has a low-90s fastball that touched as high as 96 mph this year. He backs it up with a downer curveball with 11-to-5 break and a promising changeup. He needs to work on finishing his delivery more often in order to drive his entire arsenal down in the zone, where it will be most effective. He also shows advanced pitchability for his age, and he could grow into a little more velocity.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #80 prospect in 2022

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Contreras raised his stock as much as any pitching prospect in 2021, gains initially set in motion while he was still in the Yankees’ system. His improvement continued when the Pirates acquired him after the 2020 season in the trade that sent Jameson Taillon to New York. Contreras struck out 36% of batters as he rifled through Double-A and Triple-A, though he missed two months with a forearm strain. Contreras returned in September and continued to impress, culminating in his MLB debut with the Pirates at the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Contreras has worked diligently to add strength and refine his pitch mix, and the result is an attack rooted in brute force. His fastball now tops out at 98 mph after operating primarily in the low 90s with the Yankees, and it explodes out of his hand at an angle that confuses hitters. He added a slider late in his tenure with the Yankees, giving him two distinct breaking balls, and both flash plus albeit with inconsistent command. Even his changeup, which he uses less frequently, has above-average potential. The Pirates worked with Contreras to better sync the release point of his breaking pitches with his fastball, unlocking more deception and improved spin rates on his curveball, which now tickles 2,900 rpm with better depth. Contreras’ command wavers when he gets over-aggressive with his delivery, but his athleticism allows him to make adjustments on the fly. The larger concern is whether the 6-foot Contreras can sustain hold up under a starter’s workload for a full season.
  
  The Future: Contreras will enter spring training with a chance to win a spot in the Pirates’ rotation. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Though the Yankees were in the international penalty box in 2016, they still unearthed several gems in Jose Devers (since traded to Miami), Oswald Peraza and Contreras, who was a product of the same training program in the Dominican Republic that produced Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. Contreras was part of a talented group of pitchers at low Class A Charleston in 2019 but was not brought to the Yankees alternate training site in 2020. The Pirates acquired him as one of four players for Jameson Taillon after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras showed a small uptick in his velocity and averaged 95 mph on his fastball in spring training before camps shut down. The development of his breaking ball will be key. It's been more of an inconsistent slurve in the past, but he worked to make it more of a firm slider during limited time in 2020. His well-regarded changeup features both horizontal and vertical movement and is thrown with enough confidence to be effective against both righties and lefties. He's shown above-average control at every stop in the minors so far.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras worked remotely with Yankees pitching coach Dustin Glant during the shutdown and should be in decent pitching shape despite the lost year of development. He has back-of-the-rotation potential if his breaking ball comes along.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Though the Yankees were in the international penalty box in 2016, they still unearthed several gems in Jose Devers (since traded to Miami), Oswald Peraza and Contreras, who was a product of the same training program in the Dominican Republic that produced Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. Contreras was part of a talented group of pitchers at low Class A Charleston in 2019 but was not brought to the Yankees alternate training site in 2020. The Pirates acquired him as one of four players for Jameson Taillon after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras showed a small uptick in his velocity and averaged 95 mph on his fastball in spring training before camps shut down. The development of his breaking ball will be key. It's been more of an inconsistent slurve in the past, but he worked to make it more of a firm slider during limited time in 2020. His well-regarded changeup features both horizontal and vertical movement and is thrown with enough confidence to be effective against both righties and lefties. He's shown above-average control at every stop in the minors so far.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras worked remotely with Yankees pitching coach Dustin Glant during the shutdown and should be in decent pitching shape despite the lost year of development. He has back-of-the-rotation potential if his breaking ball comes along.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Though the Yankees were in the international penalty box in 2016, they still unearthed several gems in Jose Devers (since traded to Miami), Oswald Peraza and Contreras, who was a product of the same training program in the Dominican Republic that produced Gary Sanchez and Miguel Andujar. Contreras was part of a talented group of pitchers at low Class A Charleston in 2019 but was not brought to the Yankees alternate training site in 2020. The Pirates acquired him as one of four players for Jameson Taillon after the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras showed a small uptick in his velocity and averaged 95 mph on his fastball in spring training before camps shut down. The development of his breaking ball will be key. It's been more of an inconsistent slurve in the past, but he worked to make it more of a firm slider during limited time in 2020. His well-regarded changeup features both horizontal and vertical movement and is thrown with enough confidence to be effective against both righties and lefties. He's shown above-average control at every stop in the minors so far.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras worked remotely with Yankees pitching coach Dustin Glant during the shutdown and should be in decent pitching shape despite the lost year of development. He has back-of-the-rotation potential if his breaking ball comes along.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees were still in the international penalty box in 2016 but unearthed Contreras and signed him for $250,000. He experienced a bit of a breakout in 2018, when he ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the New York-Penn League after a strong performance in a typically college-heavy league before moving to low Class A Charleston and holding his own for seven starts. He is a product of the same Dominican program that produced Miguel Andujar and Gary Sanchez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras was easily the most consistent piece of Charleston’s extremely talented rotation and has as high an upside as anyone not named Luis Medina. He starts his arsenal with a low-90s fastball that can get to the mid-90s fairly consistently. The pitch is relatively straight but is thrown with considerable extension and downhill plane that somewhat mitigate the lack of movement. His best secondary offering is power changeup with sinking action thrown in the 85-89 mph range and sold well because it’s thrown with the same conviction as his fastball. His curveball, a slurvy offering in the low 80s, is thrown with more consistent spin than the breaking balls of his rotation-mates in Charleston. Scouts noted more consistent hand position on the curveball led to a more consistent, higher quality offering. Contreras also impressed evaluators with his feel to pitch as situations dictated.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras will move to high Class A Tampa in 2020. Scouts who like him see a solid backend starter with a ceiling of a No. 3 if absolutely everything goes right.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees were still in the international penalty box in 2016 but unearthed Contreras and signed him for $250,000. He experienced a bit of a breakout in 2018, when he ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the New York-Penn League after a strong performance in a typically college-heavy league before moving to low Class A Charleston and holding his own for seven starts. He is a product of the same Dominican program that produced Miguel Andujar and Gary Sanchez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Contreras was easily the most consistent piece of Charleston's extremely talented rotation and has as high an upside as anyone not named Luis Medina. He starts his arsenal with a low-90s fastball that can get to the mid-90s fairly consistently. The pitch is relatively straight but is thrown with considerable extension and downhill plane that somewhat mitigate the lack of movement. His best secondary offering is power changeup with sinking action thrown in the 85-89 mph range and sold well because it's thrown with the same conviction as his fastball. His curveball, a slurvy offering in the low 80s, is thrown with more consistent spin than the breaking balls of his rotation-mates in Charleston. Scouts noted more consistent hand position on the curveball led to a more consistent, higher quality offering. Contreras also impressed evaluators with his feel to pitch as situations dictated.
  
  THE FUTURE: Contreras will move to high Class A Tampa in 2020. Scouts who like him see a solid backend starter with a ceiling of a No. 3 if absolutely everything goes right.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Lining up the Charleston staff based on future potential was difficult, as almost every coach and evaluator consulted had a different order. Roansy Contreras has the most polish. Alexander Vizcaino's changeup may be the best pitch of the four. Luis Gil may have the easiest delivery, and Luis Medina has the most jaw-dropping stuff. Contreras has the best combination of stuff and feel. His plus, 92-96 mph fastball pairs well with his plus, 86-89 mph changeup and average curveball. Contreras has shown that he understands how to work out of jams. Unlike many young pitchers, he doesn't just try to throw harder when he gets in trouble—he'll mix in a changeup in those situations to get an aggressive hitter to get himself out. He has average control now and projects to have future above-average control. Contreras does not have much—or any—projection remaining, and there are some scouts who still see the 6-foot righthander as a future reliever, but most project him as a solid No. 4 starter.