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Oliver Ortega

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Oliver Ortega
Houston Astros – No. 63
Pitcher
Born: (1996-10-02) October 2, 1996 (age 28)
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

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Los Angeles Angels

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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] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

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, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the San Diego Padres.[7]

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.[8] He was designated for assignment on December 22, following the signing of Brandon Drury.

Minnesota Twins

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On January 6, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.[9] On January 10, Ortega was designated for assignment by Minnesota following the acquisition of A. J. Alexy.[10] On January 17, Ortega cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 28, ending his season.[14]

Houston Astros

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On October 25, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[15] 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.[16] On June 26, Ortega underwent season–ending surgery to remove a bone spur from the same elbow.[17]

References

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  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. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Bollinger, Rhett. "Ortega brings lively fastball to MLB debut". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Angels' Oliver Ortega: Posts two-inning save". CBSSports.com. Paramount Global. June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "Twins Claim RHP Oliver Ortega Off Waivers from Angels". twinsdaily.com. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: DFA'd by Twins". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Added to roster". cbssports.com. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Lands on injured list". cbssports.com. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. ^ "Twins' Oliver Ortega: Moves to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Astros' Oliver Ortega: Claimed by Houston". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  16. ^ "Astros reliever Oliver Ortega undergoes right elbow surgery". houstonchronicle.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Oliver Ortega Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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