 Conti was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 32nd round of the 1996 amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.After five years in the Diamondbacks organization – including parts of two seasons at the Major League level – he was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays along with pitcher Nick Bierbrodt for pitcher Albie Lopez and catcher Mike DiFelice.Prior to the start of the 2003 season, Conti was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for catcher Javier Valentín.