Kaleb James Ort (born February 5, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 240 pounds (110 kg), he throws and bats right-handed.
Kaleb Ort | |
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Boston Red Sox – No. 61 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: (1992-02-05) February 5, 1992 (age 30) Grand Rapids, Michigan | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 13, 2021, for the Boston Red Sox | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 1–2 |
Earned run average | 6.28 |
Strikeouts | 27 |
Teams | |
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Ort grew up in Lowell, Michigan, and played college baseball at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan; he was not selected in the MLB draft.[1] He first played professionally during 2016 and 2017 for the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League.[2] Ort was briefly in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, but did not play for any of their farm teams.[2] He was signed by the New York Yankees in May 2017, and played in their organization through the 2019 season, reaching the Triple-A level.[2] After not playing during 2020 due to cancellation of the minor-league season, Ort was selected by the Boston Red Sox during the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2020.[2]
Ort opened the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox.[2] On September 10, the Red Sox added Ort to their active roster.[3] He made his major-league debut on September 13; pitching in relief against the Seattle Mariners, he allowed one hit and no runs in 1⁄3 of an inning.[4] Ort was returned to Worcester, and removed from the 40-man roster, on September 14.[5] In 42 relief appearances with Worcester, Ort recorded 19 saves with a 2.98 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 62 batters in 45+1⁄3 innings pitched.[6]
Ort returned to Worcester to begin the 2022 season, pitching out of the bullpen as a closer.[6] He was added to Boston's active roster on July 9,[7] and made his first MLB appearance of the season the next day.[8] He split time between Worcester and Boston during August,[9] and spent almost all of September with Boston.[10]