The Astros outrighted Ortega (elbow) on Monday and he elected free agency, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Ortega signed a one-year contract with Houston in March, but he never pitched a single inning during the 2024 regular season. He underwent surgery in March to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, and he had a follow-up procedure in late June to remove a bone spur from the same elbow. If Ortega does catch on with another team, it's unclear whether he'll be available to pitch for the start of spring training.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Won't pitch in 2024
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Ortega underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Ortega underwent an operation during the offseason to remove loose bodies in the same elbow, and his most recent surgery will ensure that he misses the entire 2024 campaign. An exact recovery timeline has not been provided, but the 27-year-old right-hander will aim to return at some point next season.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Moved to 60-day IL
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Ortega (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Astros placed Ortega on the 15-day injured list at the end of March. The righty found himself facing a recovery timeline of 3-to-4 months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The 27-year-old is being shifted to the 60-day IL to create a 40-man roster spot for Wander Suero.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Heads to IL
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The Astros placed Ortega (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Ortega is facing a recovery timeline of 3-to-4 months after he underwent surgery last week to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The 27-year-old reliever could be a candidate to shift to the 60-day IL later in the season when the Astros need to make room on the 40-man roster for another player.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Out several months
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Ortega underwent surgery Thursday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Ortega traveled back to Houston on Tuesday in order to get his elbow checked out, and the procedure will keep him sidelined for three-to-four months. He will almost certainly begin the season on the 60-day IL, opening a roster spot in Houston's bullpen.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Nursing elbow issue
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Ortega is returning to Houston on Tuesday to be evaluated for an elbow injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Ortega was claimed off waivers by Houston in late October after finishing last season on the injured list with a back strain, and he's now dealing with an elbow injury. The 27-year-old is likely to begin the season on the injured list if he requires any sort of shutdown period.
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Astros' Oliver Ortega: Making spring debut
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Ortega (back) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Monday in the Astros' Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Ortega will be making his spring debut in the Astros' fourth Grapefruit League game, an indication that he's fully healthy after he spent the final five weeks of the 2023 season on the Twins' injured list with a left lumbar strain. Claimed off waivers by Houston in the offseason, Ortega will look to impress in spring training as he aims to secure a spot in the Astros' Opening Day bullpen.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Lands on injured list
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The Twins placed Ortega on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left lumbar strain, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ortega was forced out of his appearance Tuesday against Milwaukee after experiencing tightness in his back during the seventh inning. Now, he'll be sidelined for at least two weeks as he recovers. Jordan Balazovic was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Exits with back tightness
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Ortega exited Tuesday's game against the Brewers with lower back tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ortega entered the game in the seventh inning and got two outs while walking three across 25 pitches. He grimaced after throwing a slider in the dirt and then exited the game. While the length of his absence is unclear, it's seemingly a positive that he avoided an arm issue.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Gets call from Triple-A
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Ortega was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
After getting sent down to Rochester on July 26, Ortega turned in a 0.87 ERA with 15 strikeouts against two walks across 10.1 innings over his seven appearances. He'll now get the chance to fill a middle-innings role in the Minnesota bullpen after the Twins optioned the struggling Jordan Balazovic to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Ortega to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
After allowing three runs in the ninth inning during Tuesday's loss to the Mariners, Ortega's ERA ballooned to 4.50 through 14 innings this season. Ortega has been solid overall in both the majors and Triple-A, so there's plenty of reason to believe he'll be back with the Twins later this summer. A corresponding move will be announced Wednesday.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Emerges as reliable middle reliever
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Ortega allowed four hits and no walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings Sunday against the White Sox.
After giving up two runs in his first outing of the season on June 27, Ortega has since allowed just two runs in 12 innings with a 11:2 K:BB. He's quickly become a much-needed option in middle relief for the Twins.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Recalled from St. Paul
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Minnesota recalled Ortega from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ortega will return to the Twins' bullpen ahead of Tuesday night's game in Atlanta as Brock Stewart (elbow) heads to the injured list. Ortega, 26, got lit up in his previous major-league stint and figures to operate in a low-leverage role.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Added to roster
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The Twins selected Ortega's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.
Ortega earned the promotion after posting a 2.42 ERA and 28:7 K:BB over 22.1 innings with St. Paul. He'll provide the Twins' bullpen with a fresh arm.
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Twins' Oliver Ortega: Shifts to MiLB camp
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Ortega was reassigned to the Twins' minor-league camp Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Ortega split time last season between the Angels and their Triple-A affiliate, racking up 33 strikeouts in 34 major-league innings alongside a 3.71 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. His spring numbers were solid too, so he will return to Triple-A and likely be one of the top candidates to be called up should the Twins need more depth in their bullpen.
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Angels' Oliver Ortega: Hits minor-league IL
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Ortega (undisclosed) was placed on Triple-A Salt Lake's 7-day injured list Friday.
The cause of Ortega's move to the IL is unclear, but he last pitched for Salt Lake on Tuesday. The right-hander has spent much of the season in the majors, posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 33:18 K:BB over 34 innings for the Angels.
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Angels' Oliver Ortega: Heads back to minors
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The Angels returned Ortega to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Ortega's stay with the big club lasted just one day after he was designated as the Angels' 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Mariners. He appeared in relief in the Angels' 7-1 win in the second half of the twin bill, striking out two over a scoreless inning.
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Angels' Oliver Ortega: Serving as 27th man
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Ortega was called up to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against Seattle.
Ortega has thrown 33 innings for the big-league bullpen this season, posting a respectable 3.82 ERA. It's unclear if he'll have the chance to stick around beyond Saturday's twin bill.
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Angels' Oliver Ortega: Optioned to Triple-A
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Ortega was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
Ortega's latest big-league stint lasted just over two weeks. He posted a 3.86 ERA in seven innings and recorded his first career save, but he also stumbled to a 2.00 WHIP. Reid Detmers was recalled in a corresponding move.
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Angels' Oliver Ortega: Takes loss Tuesday
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Ortega (1-3) was tagged with the loss against the White Sox on Tuesday as a result of giving up two runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one batter.
Ortega's control of the zone was fine, as he threw 15 of 19 pitches for strikes. However, the right-hander was too hittable, giving up a trio of base knocks including a two-run homer off the bat of Luis Robert. Long balls have been a problem for Ortega of late -- he's given up four over his past 6.2 innings after yielding just one homer across his first 24 frames of the campaign.
