Jose Contreras is a retired Cuban professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams during his career. He was born on December 6, 1971, in Las Martinas, Cuba, and began his baseball career in his home country before defecting to the United States in 2002.
Contreras made his MLB debut in 2003 with the New York Yankees, where he played for three seasons. He then played for the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates before retiring in 2013.
Throughout his career, Contreras was known for his impressive fastball and his ability to throw a variety of pitches, including a slider, curveball, and changeup. He was also known for his durability, as he was able to pitch long innings and make multiple starts in a row without getting tired.
One of Contreras' most notable achievements came in 2005, when he helped lead the Chicago White Sox to their first World Series championship in 88 years. He pitched in two games during the series, including a dominant performance in Game 1 where he struck out 10 batters and allowed only two hits in eight innings.
Overall, Contreras had a successful career in MLB, finishing with a record of 78-67 and an ERA of 4.57. He also had 1,121 strikeouts and 34 saves in 1,167 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Contreras returned to Cuba and became a coach for the Cuban national baseball team. He also worked as a commentator for ESPN Deportes and occasionally made appearances as a guest analyst on MLB Network.
In addition to his baseball career, Contreras is also known for his humanitarian work. He has been involved in several charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Overall, Jose Contreras had a successful career in baseball, both in the United States and in his home country of Cuba. He was known for his impressive pitching abilities and his durability on the mound, and he helped lead his teams to several victories throughout his career.
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