Kaleb Ort #43

A native of central Michigan, Kaleb was a 2010 graduate from Lowell High School in Michigan, where he had his jersey No. 11 retired in 2024...After high school, went on to attend nearby Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he pitched four seasons (2011-14)…Went 9-6 in 34 career games (26 starts) with a 3.71 ERA, totaling 173 strikeouts across 172.1 innings...Became just the third player from Aquinas to play in a Major League game, joining pitchers Dave Gumpert and Paul Assenmacher...Went undrafted out of college and began a winding road to the Majors, beginning his professional career for the Joliet Slammers in the Independent Frontier League in 2015...Signed with the Diamondbacks late in the 2016 season but was released before making an appearance...Signed again, this time by the Yankees in May 2017 and pitched parts of three seasons in the Yankees' system...Was selected by the Red Sox in the Minor League phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft...Made his Major League debut with Boston in 2021...Since making his MLB debut, has been claimed off waivers on four occasions, while also being traded for cash considerations once...Was with six different organizations in a span of eight months from October 2023 to May 2024...Went from the Red Sox, to the Mariners, to the Marlins, to the Phillies, to the Orioles, to the Astros in that span...Is signed to a one-year contract for the 2025 season...Has used all three of his option years.

2024

Was a heavy contributor as a middle reliever out of the Astros' bullpen in the second half of the year, before spending most of the second half at Triple-A...The 32-year-old hard-throwing righty was claimed off waivers in May and made 22 appearances after being promoted in late July, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA (seven ER/24.2 IP), a .180 opponents' batting average (16-for-89), a 0.81 WHIP and 26 strikeouts...Outside of his outing on Sept. 18 at SD, in which he allowed three runs without recording an out, he posted a 1.46 ERA (four ER/24.2 IP) through his other 21 appearances on the year...Tossed multiple innings in eight of his 22 outings, including 2.0+ innings in five games...Per Baseball Savant, his fastball sat at 97.5 mph, which ranked in the 94th percentile in the Majors...Made his Astros debut on July 6 at MIN (0 ER/one IP)…In his second outing as an Astro, tossed 2.0 perfect innings of relief and matched his career high with four strikeouts...Picked up his lone win of the year on Aug. 9 at BOS (0 ER/1.1 IP)…Began his season at Triple-A Norfolk in Baltimore’s organization...Struggled to a 12.08 ERA (17 ER/12.2 IP) in 14 appearances with Triple-A Norfolk...Was DFA’d and then claimed off waivers by the Astros on May 28...Assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land after his acquisition...Posted a 1.13 ERA (two ER/16 IP) in 16 appearances at Sugar Land on the year...Was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on July 29... Outside of a stint on the paternity list (Aug. 21-24), spent the rest of the season on the active roster.

2023

Made his first career Opening Day roster and went on to make 21 appearances (two GS) across four stints with the Red Sox. Pitched to a 1-2 record with a 6.26 ERA (16 ER/23.0 IP), 27 hits (six HR), 19 total runs, nine walks, one hit batter and 24 strikeouts...Threw the two fastest pitches of the season by a Boston hurler with 99.4 mph fastballs on 4/11 at TB and 6/30 at TOR. Ranked in the 80th percentile of MLB pitchers in average fastball velocity (95.8 mph) per Statcast...Posted a 4.76 ERA (9 ER/17.0 IP) in 13 home games compared to a 10.50 ERA (7 ER/6.0 IP) in eight road games...Made 13 appearances for Triple-A Worcester, going 1-2 with a 1.54 ERA (2 ER/11.2 IP) with four total runs, eight hits, one home run, eight walks, 16 strikeouts and one hit batter...Placed on the 15-day injured list (right elbow inflammation) on 7/7, retroactive to 7/5, before being transferred to the 60-day IL on 7/26 and missing the remainder of the season.

2022

Pitched in 25 games over three stints with BOS, after making his ML debut with only one appearance in 2021. Pitched primarily for Triple-A Worcester, posting a 2.88 ERA (13 ER/40.2 IP) in 39 outings...Led the WooSox and ranked T-3rd in the International League in saves (16-for-18). For BOS, was 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA (20 ER/28.1 IP) and one save...Allowed 8 ER on 7/22 vs. TOR but posted a 3.90 ERA in his other 24 outings (12 ER/27.2 IP). 15 of his 25 ML outings were scoreless (60.0%). Averaged 96.3 MPH on his 4-seam fastball and recorded the Sox’ three fastest pitches of the season (see table). Threw more than 1.0 inning six times for BOS, 2.0+ innings 3 times, and a career-high 3.0 innings once.

2021

Made his ML debut with the Red Sox, but spent the majority of 2021 with Triple-A Worcester...Appeared in relief on 9/13 at SEA (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB), his lone ML appearance...Was selected to the ML roster on 9/10 and returned to the Worcester roster on 9/14...Led Red Sox minor leaguers in appearances (42) and saves (19), both career highs...Led Triple-A East in saves (T-4th in MiLB)...30 of his 42 appearances were scoreless...Recorded at least one SO in 36 of his appearances...Named Red Sox Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for May...Allowed just one unearned run across nine outings (10.0 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 15 SO)...Did not allow a run in seven consecutive outings from 5/9-29 (8.0 IP)...Held RHH to a .175 AVG/.495 OPS (18-for-103, 5 XBH).

2020

Enters his 1st season in the Red Sox organization after being selected from the New York Yankees in the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft...Did not play in 2020.