George Kontos, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 6/12/1985
Birthplace: Lincolnwood, Illinois
College: Northwestern University

George Kontos, relief pitcher, was first drafted in 2006 by the New York Yankees. He pitched in the Yankees' minor league system from 2006 through most of 2011. He began as a starting pitcher and was moved to the bullpen in 2010. He had Tommy John surgery in 2009.

The San Diego Padres acquired Kontos on December 9, 2010 in the Rule 5 draft. He returned to the Yankees on May 14, 2011. He spent most of the 2011 season in the minors, pitching just 6.0 innings in 7 games with the Yankees.

The Yankees traded Kontos to the San Francisco Giants on April 4, 2012. He pitched in 44 games with the Giants that season. He finished with 2 wins to 1 loss, 44 strikeouts to 12 walks, and a 2.47 ERA in 43.2 innings. The following season, he had a 4.39 ERA in 52 games. He pitched in just 24 games in 2014, finishing with a 2.78 ERA in 32.1 innings.

Kontos signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Giants on February 1, 2016. He spent part of the 2016 season on the DL with an elbow strain. He finished the season with 3 wins and 2 losses, 35 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a 2.53 ERA in 53.1 innings in 57 games. In the postseason, he pitched 2.0 innings in 1 game and he gave up 1 hit and 1 run. He struck out 1 batter and walked none.

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Kontos off waivers on August 5, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with 1 win and 6 losses, 1 save, 70 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a 3.39 ERA in 50 games with the Giants and 15 games with the Pirates.

The Pirates released Kontos on May 28, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on June 3rd. He returned again to the Yankees in a trade on August 4th. He finished the 2018 season with a 4.39 ERA in 21 games with the Pirates, 1 game with the Yankees, and 6 games with the Indians. He also pitched in 22 games in the minors.

Kontos became a free agent on October 5, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 25, 2019, and he was released on April 4th. He signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on May 25th. He was released on August 28th. He played only in the minors in 2019.

Kontos hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - George Kontos
ESPN - George Kontos