George Nicholas Kontos...Is a 2003 graduate of Niles (IL) West High School, where he was named the Illinois High School baseball Player-of-the-Year in 2003...Also lettered in golf and basketball...Attended Northwestern University, where he ranked second in the Big Ten with 84 strikeouts in 2006...His father was born in Greece...Represented Greece as a 16-year-old in 2001 in a Pan-European baseball tournament in Thessaloniki.
2017
Went 1-6 with a 3.39 ERA (66.1ip/27r/25er) and 70 strikeouts in 65 total games between San Francisco and Pittsburgh...Began season with San Francisco and was scored upon once in his first six appearances...Was charged with his first loss (0.2ip/3r) on 4/7 at San Diego...Posted a 1.93 ERA (14.0ip/3er) in 12 appearances during the month of May and a 1.26 ERA (14.1ip/2er) in June...Had 33 inherited runners while playing with the Giants; the fifth-most among National League relievers at the time he was acquired by Pittsburgh...Made final appearance with San Francisco on 8/2 vs. Oakland (1.0ip/0r)...His 50 appearances with the Giants were tied for the eighth-most in the National League at the time he was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh on 8/5...Made debut with the Pirates on 8/7 vs. Detroit and tossed a scoreless eighth inning...Retired each of the nine batters he faced in his first three appearances with Pittsburgh... Surrendered a game-tying home run to Keon Broxton in the seventh inning on 8/16 at Milwaukee and suffered a blown save... Was placed on the 10-day disabled list on 8/22 (retro to 8/20) with a right groin strain...Threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at PNC Park on 9/3 and had a 20-pitch simulated game on 9/5...Was reinstated on 9/7...Suffered his loss with Pittsburgh on 9/9 at St. Louis...Won his lone game on 9/30 at Washington - his first big league win since 8/8/16...Recorded his first Major League save in the final game of the season on 10/1 at Washington...Produced a 1.72 ERA (15.2ip/3er) and 16 strikeouts in his final 16 games, dating back to 8/2.
2016
Finished the season with a record of 3-2 and a 2.53 ERA in 57 appearances. Missed 26 games from April 19-May 17 with a flexor strain in his pitching arm, an injury similar to the one that shelved reliever Sergio Romo. Kontos had felt something in his elbow in spring training and after undergoing test on April 18 he was shut down. Appeared in eight of the team's first 13 games and produced a 1.59 ERA before going on the DL. Was removed from the 15-day disabled list on May 17 after making four rehab appearances with triple-A Sacramento (1er, 3.2ip).
2015
Had his best big league season, going 4-4 with a 2.33 ERA in a career-high 73 relief appearances....Posted career highs in games, innings pitched (73.1) and his ERA and WHIP (0.94) were both the lowest of his five-year career....13 of his 20 runs allowed came off home runs....Stranded his first 26 inherited runners before allowing his first such runner to score July 24 vs. OAK...stranded 41/54 runners (75.9%)....Fashioned a 1.38 ERA (5er, 32.2ip) at home compared to a 3.10 figure (14er, 40.2ip) on the road....Held right-handed batters to a .205 clip (35-for-171)....Limited opponents to a .159 average (13-for-82) with RISP and .073 (3-for-41) with RISP/2 outs....The only relievers in the big leagues with a lower opponents batting average against with RISP were New York's (AL) Dellin Betances (.115) and Chicago's (NL) Hector Rondon (.143) (minimum of 75 opponent at-bats with RISP).
2014
Spent the season bouncing back and forth between Triple- A Fresno and San Francisco, being recalled to the big league club five different times...Went 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA (10er, 32.1ip) in 24 relief appearances for the Giants, with 14 of 24 outings being multiple innings...Won back-to-back games July 21-22, earning wins at Philadelphia in which he totaled 4.1 innings while allowing one run on 61 pitches...Began the season at triple-A Fresno where he compiled a 3-3 record with a 2.08 ERA (11er, 47.2ip) along with four saves in 30 relief appearances...Struck out 58 batters while allowing 11 walks and held PCL batters to a .228 average against...Fanned at least one batter in every game but two, with multiple strikeouts in 20 of 30 games...Ended his triple-A season Aug. 15 with a 19.0-inning scoreless streak (June 28-Aug. 15).
2013
Completed his second season with San Francisco and appeared in 52 games, going 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA (27er,55.1ip). Fashioned a 2.43 ERA at home, but posted a 6.66 figure on the road.Received a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch at the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen on June 11 at PNC Park. Finished the season strong, posting a 1.00 ERA (1er, 9.0ip) over his last 10 appearances.Despite spending over a month with Fresno, his 52 appearances out of the Giants' bullpen were the fifthmost on the club. Appeared in 18 games for triple-A Fresno, going 3-2 with a 4.18 ERA (11er, 23.2ip).
2012
Rookie right-hander was integral part of Giants'
bullpen, going 2-1 with a 2.47 ERA (12er, 43.2ip) along with 44 strikeouts against 12 walks in 44
relief outings. Among rookie relievers he was tied for sixth in games, seventh in innings and strikeouts. Was acquired by the Giants from the Yankees on April 4 in exchange for C Chris Stewart. Was recalled from triple-A Fresno on June 9 and spent the remainder of the year in SF's 'pen. Left-handed hitters batted just .167 (9-for-54) off him with one extra base hit (one HR). Held the opposition scoreless in 14 of his last 17 outings (4er, 15.2ip, 2.30 ERA). Earned his first Major League win on Aug. 29 at Houston tossing 2.2-scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
2011
Posted a 3.00 ERA (6.0IP, 2ER) without recording a decision in seven relief appearances
with the Yankees as a September callup...retired five of his six first batters faced and
prevented each of his six inherited runners from scoring... held opponents scoreless
in five of his appearances.
.. Was signed to a Major League contract and selected to the Yankees' active roster
from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 9/6...made his Major League debut in 9/10
loss at Los Angeles-AL, allowing 2H and 1ER in 1.1IP (2K, 1HR)... did not face an official
batter in 9/18 loss at Toronto after Lawrie was caught stealing second base to end
the inning.
.. Entered 9/22 loss vs. Tampa Bay with the bases loaded and struck out Justin Ruggiano
to strand all three runners (1.1IP, 1H, 1K).
.. Prior to his call-up, went 4-4 with two saves and a 2.62 ERA (89.1IP, 26ER) in 40
appearances (four starts) at Scranton/WB...was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (17.1IP, 4ER) in
four starts and 3-4 with a 2.75 ERA (72.0IP, 22ER) in 36 relief appearances...tossed
at least 2.0 innings in 21 of his 36 relief outings, including six appearances of at least
3.0 innings and two with at least 4.0IP.
.. Was returned to the Yankees from the Padres on 3/14/11 after being selected in the
2010 Rule 5 Draft.
2010
Split his time between three levels in the NYY organization, seeing time at Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...Combined to go 0-4 with a 3.60 ERA (18 ER/45.0 IP) in 24 games (two starts)...tallied 38 strikeouts compared to 15 walks...Served primarily as a reliever for the first time in his career, having made two relief appearances prior to the 2010 campaign...Selected by the Padres in the Rule 5 draft following the season...11th player selected overall in the draft.
2009
Combined to go 4-5 with a 3.15 ERA (25 ER/71.1 IP) in 13 starts between Double-A Trenton and
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...Began the season with Trenton, going 1-1 in four starts before being promoted to Triple-A on 5/4...Tossed his first career complete game 6/6 at Charlotte...tagged with the loss despite allowing just four hits and three runs (two earned) over 8.0 innings...Placed on the disabled list 6/26 with a strained right biceps, missing the remainder of the season.
2008
Made a team-high 27 starts for Double-A Trenton, going 6-11 with a 3.68 ERA...Led his team with 152 strikeouts and 151.2 innings pitched...Led all Yankees minor leaguers and ranked third in the Eastern League with a .239 opponent batting average...limited left-handers to a .212 average...Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending 8/3.
2007
Made 19 appearances (17 starts) for Single-A Tampa...missed time while on the disabled list from
4/19-6/13 with a right shoulder contusion...Recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work 4/17 vs. Clearwater...Pitched for the Honolulu Sharks of the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League following the season.
2006
Made his professional debut with Short-A Staten Island, going 7-3 with a 2.46 ERA (23 ER/78.1
IP) in 14 starts...Ranked third among all New York-Penn League pitchers with 82 strikeouts...Won seven consecutive decisions from 7/8-8/17...Named to the Baseball America Minor League Short-Season All-Star Team.
