The Houston Astros' bullpen has been the tenth-strongest in MLB a third of the way through the season. They claimed a former Boston Red Sox pitcher to add depth to their system.
The Astros claimed Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles organization. The righty was with the Red Sox organization from 2021-23 and he pitched to a 6.27 ERA in 47 appearances there.
The 32-year-old moved between teams frequently this offseason. He was claimed off waivers by the Mariners, Marlins and Phillies before the Orioles traded cash for him. He didn't appear in any big-league games for Baltimore, and his numbers in Triple-A show why — Ort pitched to a 12.08 ERA in 12.2 innings with Triple-A Norfolk. The righty finished off a three-man no-hitter for the Tides on May 3 with a clean ninth inning.
SoxProspects.com described Ort as a middle-innings reliever with spotty command. He relied heavily on his fastball during his time in the major leagues, which opposing players generally read well.
Astros claim former Red Sox pitcher Kaleb Ort off waivers to bolster depleted pitching staff
Astros have claimed RHP Kaleb Ort from the Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 28, 2024
Ort, 32, has spent the entire season with Triple-A Norfolk and parts of three seasons in the Majors (2021-23) with the Red Sox, recording a 6.27 ERA in 23 innings.
The Astros' 40-man…
Houston optioned Ort to Triple-A after the acquisition. He holds a spot on the 40-man roster after the club designated Brandon Bielak for assignment on May 11. The Astros are contending with a slew of injuries to pitchers, and Ort is likely an emergency depth pickup.
A new team may be the ticket to getting Ort's numbers back on track. He was popular this offseason and the interest from five clubs this year has to be promising for the veteran.