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'He's a presence': Luis Ortiz joins Guardians rotation after impressing with Pirates
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- 'He's a presence': Luis Ortiz joins Guardians rotation after impressing with Pirates
Luis Ortiz is the kind of player teams want to be the first one off the plane or bus as an imposing pitcher with the stuff to back it up. He was already on the Guardians' radar when he took the mound in Cleveland last August as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates , but he opened some eyes in the home dugout that day.
Ortiz was terrific in that Aug. 31 outing , allowing only one hit in six scoreless innings with five strikeouts en route to a Pirates win. Some Guardians hitters couldn't help but come away dazzled.
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"He was really impressive," said catcher Austin Hedges . "It was four-seam, two-seam, cutter, that little criss-cross combo. What he did against us last year when we faced him, that was really impressive."
Hedges was able to see, in real time, the level of progress Ortiz has made. The two were briefly together while with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023, so Hedges had caught him in the past. Ortiz has long had the pedigree of a "power arm," but last August Hedges was blown away by his other pitches and pitch sequencing that showed a pitcher evolving in the major leagues. It was a more complete picture.
"He'd developed into being a pitcher," Hedges said. "Early in his career and as a prospect, he was a guy that throws 100, but it was a bit of a 'thrower.' What I saw last year and what I'm seeing right now is a true pitcher, a real pitcher that can move the ball in and out, right and left, be a guy that goes six, seven innings."
Luis Ortiz stats, trade
Mar 3, 2025; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Guardians made Ortiz one of the central pickups of the offseason in a trade with the Pirates that sent the very-recently acquired Spencer Horwitz to Pittsburgh.
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Ortiz joins a starting rotation in flux , which hasn't been the case in Cleveland for quite some time. After Tanner Bibee and Ortiz, a lot is unknown with a number of contenders vying for spots this spring.
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Luis Ortiz (48) throws a pitch against the Guardians on Aug. 31, 2024, in Cleveland.
Ortiz, who just turned 26, is under club control through the 2029 season and is coming off his best year in which he posted a 3.32 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 135⅔ innings. He had a 4.73 ERA entering 2024.
And at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he looks like the Browns could give him a call if they need an extra linebacker.
"He's another one of our pitchers that I think could be playing another sport if they didn't choose baseball, but I'm really glad they did," said manager Stephen Vogt . "He's a presence. And thing about Luis? He's happy, man. ...
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He's joyful — except when he's on the mound. Then he's pretty nasty."
Mar 3, 2025; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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The Guardians were given a taste of it last summer. Now they've made Ortiz a key piece to their long-term pitching picture, the effective centerpiece of the Andres Gimenez trade.
"We saw what he could do up close and personal last year," Vogt said. "We're just looking forward to getting to know him better and watch him throw."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Luis Ortiz set for Cleveland Guardians 2025 Opening Day rotation
