Scouting grades 20–80
55Fastball
55Slider
60Splitter
45Control
Son of 11 year MLB pitcher Jose Contreras, Joseph has seen a huge uptick in stuff over the past year, quickly becoming one of the top right handers in the entire class. It's a long, lanky 6 foot 4 frame with strength still to be added. There's not a ton more you could ask from a projection stand point here.
Contreras will operate exclusively from the stretch, giving off more of a reliever look at times. It's a an extremely quick, over the top arm action that generates a tough down hill look for hitters. Contreras will regularly sit in the mid 90's with his fastball getting it up to 99 in some outings. While the pitch lacks life and carry at times, it generates weak contact at a high clip, sinking away from lefties. Conteras offers two extremely high upside secondaries, both ultimately showing above average or better potential. The first is a mid 80's slider that plays extremely well of his fastball, with sharp, biting break. There's a ton of depth to the pitch, garnering plenty of swing and miss. The shape flashes plus when it's on. The second is an upper 70's splitter that falls off the table with late diving action. While the command on the pitch can be fringy at times, Contreras shows a ton of confidence in the pitch, and will throw it in any count against lefties and righties alike.
There's undoubtetly reliever risk here, as the strike throwing has been inconsistent at times, something Contreras will have to refine heading into the spring. It may not be as polished a profile as some of the top prep right handers in this class, but Contreras's stuff is rivaled by very few. There's an early day one cieling here if Contreras can continue to show improvements throughout the spring.
