Oliver Ortega

Dominican baseball player (born 1996)

Baseball player
Oliver Ortega
Houston Astros – No. 63
Pitcher
Born: (1996-10-02) October 2, 1996 (age 27)
Nagua, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 8, 2021, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record2–4
Earned run average4.03
Strikeouts51
Teams

Oliver Ortega (born October 2, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels

Ortega signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on February 10, 2015.[1][2] He spent the 2015 season with the DSL Angels, going 1–3 with a 4.33 ERA over 43+23 innings.[3] He spent the 2016 season with the AZL Angels, going 2–3 with a 2.83 ERA over 28+23 innings.[3] Ortega did not appear in a game in 2017.[3] He spent the 2018 season with the Burlington Bees, going 4–5 with a 3.51 ERA over 82 innings.[3] Ortega split the 2019 season between the Inland Empire 66ers and the Mobile BayBears, going a combined 4–5 with a 3.34 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 94+13 innings.[4][1] Ortega was a 2019 California League All-Star.[5]

Ortega received his first promotion to the major leagues when the Angels selected his contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on September 1, 2021. He made his major league debut on September 8, 2021, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the San Diego Padres.[6]

On June 26, 2022, Ortega recorded his first major league save, pitching the final two innings of a 2–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.[7] He was designated for assignment on December 22, following the signing of Brandon Drury.

Minnesota Twins

On January 6, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.[8] On January 10, Ortega was designated for assignment by Minnesota following the acquisition of A. J. Alexy.[9] On January 17, Ortega cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.[10] In 16 games for the St. Paul, Ortega recorded a 2.42 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 2 saves in 22+13 innings of work. On June 20, the Twins selected his contract to the major league roster.[11] In 10 games for Minnesota, he logged a 4.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14+23 innings pitched. On August 24, Ortega was placed on the injured list with a left lumbar strain.[12] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 28, ending his season.[13]

Houston Astros

On October 25, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[14] On March 21, 2024, it was announced that Ortega would miss three to four months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Mobile BayBears (August 4, 2019). "Highly-rated pitching prospect Oliver Ortega joins BayBears". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Mike Greyshock (February 13, 2015). "Angels Sign Dominican Prospect Oliver Ortega". Halo Hangout. FanSided. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Oliver Ortega player page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Sam Dykstra (November 19, 2019). "Toolshed: 40-man protection preview". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  5. ^ Pete Marshall (June 17, 2019). "California League All-Star game comes to San Bernardino's San Manuel Stadium". The San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Bollinger, Rhett. "Ortega brings lively fastball to MLB debut". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Angels' Oliver Ortega: Posts two-inning save". CBSSports.com. Paramount Global. June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "Twins Claim RHP Oliver Ortega Off Waivers from Angels". twinsdaily.com. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: DFA'd by Twins". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  10. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Added to roster". cbssports.com. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Lands on injured list". cbssports.com. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Moves to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. ^ "Astros' Oliver Ortega: Claimed by Houston". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Astros reliever Oliver Ortega undergoes right elbow surgery". houstonchronicle.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • v
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Houston Astros current roster
Active rosterInactive rosterInjured list60-day Injured list
Coaching staff
  • Manager 19 Joe Espada
  • Bench coach 22 Omar López
  • First base 23 Dave Clark
  • Third base 8 Gary Pettis
  • Hitting 37 Alex Cintrón
  • Assistant Hitting 46 Troy Snitker
  • Pitching 41 Bill Murphy
  • Bullpen 36 Josh Miller
  • Quality control -- Jason Bell
  • Catching Coach 29 Michael Collins
  • Bullpen catcher 85 Javier Bracamonte