Contreras was drafted at the age of 17, selected in the 12th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He began his career as a starting pitcher, pitching in the Reds\' organization for four seasons, never rising above Class A ball.\n', '

Following the 1972 season, Contreras was drafted from the Reds by the New York Mets. The Mets moved him steadily up the minor league ladder over the next three seasons, and Contreras reached Triple-A with the Tidewater Tides in 1975. That season, his first full season as a relief pitcher, he posted an impressive 1.95 ERA in 60 innings. Still, the Mets released him during spring training in 1976.\n', '

Ten days after his release by the Mets, Contreras signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He split the next two seasons between the Phillies\' Double-A affiliate in Reading and their Triple-A club in Oklahoma City. In 1977, Contreras was moved back into Reading\'s starting rotation for part of the season, going 6-5 with a 3.23 ERA. Once again, however, Contreras was released during spring training in 1979.\n', '

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