Joe Ortiz

Note: This page discusses 2010s pitcher Joe Ortiz. For the minor league catcher of the same name, click here.

Joseph Ortiz Blanco

• Bats: Left, Throws: Left
• Height: 5' 7", Weight: 175 lb.

• Debut: March 31, 2013
• Final Game September 20, 2013
• Born: August 13, 1990 in Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela

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Biographical Information

Joe Ortiz made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers on opening day, March 31, 2013, after six seasons in their farm system, having originally been signed as an amateur free agent in 2006.

Ortiz was signed initially by scout Edgar Suarez. He was 1-2 with 7 saves and a 2.70 ERA for the 2007 DSL Rangers 1 in his pro debut, fanning 38 in 26 2/3 IP. He split 2008 between the AZL Rangers (0 R in 1 IP) and Clinton Lumber Kings (2-0, 4 Sv, 1.97), making it to the US at age 17. He pitched one shutout inning in the Midwest League playoffs and allowed a .204 average for the season. He made his Venezuelan League debut with the 2008-2009 Tiburones de la Guaira, going 0-1 with 8 runs allowed in 4 1/3 IP. He began 2009 with the Hickory Crawdads but struggled in four games (0-1, 11 H, 4 BB, 5 R in 6 IP) and then was sidelined with a shoulder strain. He returned after several months off with the Spokane Indians, going 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 18 outings. With the Tiburones in the winter, he was 2-0 with a 5.06 ERA as a LOOGY, working 16 innings in 30 games. He allowed a hit to the only batter he faced in the postseason. He tied Victor Moreno for 4th in the Venezuelan League in appearances, three behind leader Rommie Lewis. Every other hurler with 30+ outings was at least 26 years old; Ortiz was still a teenager.

In the summer of 2010, Joe pitched for the Crawdads (4-1, 5 Sv, 1.50, 59 K, 5 BB in 42 IP) and Bakersfield Blaze (1 R in 2 1/3 IP). Had he qualified, his .88 WHIP would have been the lowest in all of the minors. Opponents hit only .198 against him. With the 2010-2011 Tiburones, Ortiz was 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA, with just 10 IP over 25 games. He tied for 10th in the league in appearances. He went 5-5 with five saves, a 1.02 WHIP and a 2.15 ERA for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 16 innings over 26 games that winter, then tossed 1 2/3 shutout innings in the playoffs (2 games pitched). He missed the league's top 10 in appearances by one game.

Ortiz split the summer of 2012 between the Frisco RoughRiders (1-2, 4 Sv, 2.35 in 27 G) and Round Rock Express (1-1, 2 Sv, 1.97 in 24 G). The little lefty had a 2.20 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 183 minor league appearances through 2012. He was 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 games for the La Guaira club in 2012-2013.

Ortiz was the first major league player to make his debut in 2013, pitching the 8th inning of the Rangers' 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros. He relieved Jason Frasor with a 7-2 deficit and struck out Carlos Pena. Justin Maxwell tripled, then Jason Castro grounded out. Matt Dominguez singled in Maxwell, then Ortiz whiffed Rick Ankiel on three pitches to end the frame.

Sources

• 2013 Rangers Media Guide
• Purapelota

Related Sites

• Joe Ortiz on mlb.com