Luis Ortiz (pitcher, born 1999)

Luis Ortiz
Ortiz with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 48
Pitcher
Born: (1999-01-27) January 27, 1999 (age 25)
San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 13, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record12–13
Earned run average3.93
Strikeouts183
Teams

Luis Leandro Ortiz (born January 27, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Career

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Ortiz was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic on October 2, 2018, for a $25,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut 2019 for the rookie–level Bristol Pirates, logging a 4.09 ERA across 11 starts.[2]

He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Ortiz spent the 2021 season with the Single–A Bradenton Marauders, making 22 appearances (19 starts) and recording a 3.09 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 87+13 innings of work.[4] By late 2021, his fastball had reached as high as 99 miles per hour (159 km/h).[5]

On July 15 and August 9, 2022, while pitching for the Double–A Altoona Curve, Ortiz threw two immaculate innings in a span of just 25 days, four fewer than the shortest known span between such innings by a Major League pitcher.[6] Ortiz made 26 total appearances (25 starts) split between Altoona and the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians in 2022. In a career–high 124+13 innings pitched, he accumulated a 5–9 record and 4.56 ERA with 138 strikeouts.[7]

Ortiz was promoted to the majors for the first time on September 11, 2022.[8] Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told the press that the club intended to use the remainder of the season to assess the quality of starting pitching in their organization.[9]

Ortiz was optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians to begin the 2023 season.[10] He was recalled to the Pirates on May 9.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dreker, John (September 5, 2019). "Bristol Pirates Top Ten Prospects: Tahnaj Thomas Leads a Deep List of Prospects - Pirates Prospects".
  2. ^ Dreker, John (September 4, 2019). "Bristol Pirates Season Recap: A Young Pitching Staff and a Playoff Drought Ended - Pirates Prospects".
  3. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  4. ^ "Luis Ortiz Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. February 15, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  5. ^ Baseball America 2022 Prospect Handbook. Simon and Schuster. April 12, 2022. ISBN 978-1-7355482-8-9. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Jackson, Josh (August 10, 2022). "Two immaculate innings in 25 days ... by 1 pitcher!". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Luis L. Ortiz - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Mackey, Jason (September 11, 2022). "Source: Pirates to promote pitcher Luis Ortiz for Reds series". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Gorman, Kevin (September 12, 2022). "GM Ben Cherington 'focused on making the Pirates better' this offseason". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Optioned to Triple-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
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