Jose Contreras is 28 years old and was born in the Dominican Republic. In 2013, he was signed by the Texas Rangers as an international free agent. The utility player would go on to play baseball in Japan until he returned to the states in 2023 in his first year with the RailCats.  

Contreras would be signed to Gary in June 2023 and made his debut on the eighth against Cleburne. In that season, the 6-3 slugger played in 36 games Contreras hit four home runs and totaled up 47 bases. This past year he returned for a full season with the club and set some career highs. Contreras belted 12 home runs, drove in 39 batters, and finished with a .764 OPS. Contreras also hit the longest home run by any RailCat this past year, sending a ball 476.86 feet.