Oliver Ortega #74

Originally signed by the Angels on Dec. 10, 2014, as a non-drafted free agent from Nagua, D.R....signed by Angel scouts Domingo Garcia and Alfredo Ulloa...Was considered a late-bloomer by baseball standards, signing with the Angels out of the Dominican Republic at 18 years old...did not pitch above the Rookie League level until 2018 at 22 years old...spent the 2015-16 seasons with the Dominican Summer League and Arizona Rookie League Angels and missed the entire 2017 season due to a back injury...Has used a power fastball to help produce high strikeout figures throughout his Major League and minor league career...per FanGraphs, he's averaged a 96.2-mph throughout his Major League career...Appeared in the Dominican Winter League with Licey in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 offseasons...was dominant in the 2021-22 offseason, going 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1ER/13IP) and 17 strikeouts in 13 games...Spent the first eight seasons of his professional career with the Angels (2015-22)...made his Major League debut with the Halos in 2021 and followed that with a career-high 27 appearances in 2022...claimed off waivers by the Twins on Jan. 6, 2023 and spent his entire 2023 season with the Twins organization...Claimed off waivers by the Astros on Oct. 5, 2023... was acquired by Houston after being designated for assignment by the Twins...was on the 60-Day Injured List with a left lumbar strain when claimed by the Astros and was activated from the IL on Nov. 6...Has accrued 1.019 years of career MLB service time... is signed to a one-year deal for the 2024 season.

2023

Posted solid numbers with Triple-A St. Paul within the Twins, going 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA (7ER/34.2IP), five saves, 44 strikeouts and a .195 opponent's batting average (24x123) in 24 games...His 1.82 ERA ranked sixth among International League pitchers with at least 30 innings...Added to the Twins' active roster on June 20 and made three stints with the big league club, going 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA (7ER/14.2IP) in 10 games...Was scoreless in seven of his 10 outings...Did not allow a hit through three scoreless innings on June 27 at Atlanta, marking his single-game career high for innings pitched...Was placed on the injured list with a left lumbar strain on Aug. 24 and did not return for the rest of the season...Was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Jan.6 and was outrighted to the minors after being designated for assignment. Had a stellar Spring Training with Minnesota, posting a 1.29 ERA (1ER/7IP) in six appearances. 

2022

Made Angels Opening Day roster for first time in career....Earned win April 19 at Houston after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in relief...victory came during streak of nine consecutive scoreless appearances (April 10-May 6), spanning 13.2 innings pitched....Totaled 27 Major League appearances across three big league stints...totaled 20 games during first big league stint before being optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on June 12...rejoined Angels June 22 after one game with Bees and made seven relief appearances during second stint with Halos....After being optioned back to Salt Lake on July 8, spent remainder of season with Bees, with exception of serving as 27th man for Angels' Aug. 6 doubleheader at Seattle....Designated for release or assignment by Angels on Dec. 22 and claimed off waivers by Minnesota on Jan. 6, 2023 (Blayne Enlow DFA'd).

2021

Started season with Double-A Rocket City making 25 relief appearances and recording 46 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched...Was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on July 28 and pitched 10.0 innings across seven relief appearances...Was unscored upon in five of seven Triple-A outings...Had contract selected by Angels Sept. 1...At time of MLB promotion was ranked by MLB Pipeline as Angels #14 prospect (#6 pitching prospect)...Made Major League debut Sept. 8 at San Diego and worked 1.1 shutout frames...Recorded first career strikeout against first batter faced (Wil Myers) and stranded his two inherited runners...Earned first Major League win in Angels season finale, Oct. 3 at Seattle after 1.1 scoreless innings of relief work.

2020

Did not appear in a regular season game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League season.

2019

Began his 2019 season with High A Inland Empire and was named a California League Mid-Season ALL-STAR...received a promotion to Double A Mobile in early August, where he finished out his season...went a combined 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA (51ER/111IP) with two saves and 135 strikeouts through 26 games (21 starts).

2018

Spent his entire 2018 season with Low A Burlington, going 4-5 with a 3.51 ERA (32ER/82IP) and 86 strikeouts in 19 appearances (18 starts).

2017

Did not pitch.

2016

: Spent second professional season with AZL Angels and appeared in eight games (5 starts), allowing just nine runs in 28.2 innings pitched... posted a 0.87 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .156 batting average.

2015

Made professional debut with DSL Angels, appearing in 19 games (2 starts)...made debut with 2.0 scoreless innings June 1 at DSL Mariners.