Oliver Ortega

Oliver Ortega (born October 2, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.

Los Angeles Angels
Ortega signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on February 10, 2015. He spent the 2015 season with the DSL Angels, going 1–3 with a 4.33 ERA over $43 2/3$ innings. He spent the 2016 season with the AZL Angels, going 2–3 with a 2.83 ERA over $28 2/3$ innings. Ortega did not appear in a game in 2017. He spent the 2018 season with the Burlington Bees, going 4–5 with a 3.51 ERA over 82 innings.

Ortega split the 2019 season between the Inland Empire 66ers and the Mobile BayBears, going a combined 4–5 with a 3.34 ERA and 121 strikeouts over $94 1/3$ innings. Ortega was a 2019 California League All-Star. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ortega received his first promotion to the major leagues when the Angels selected his contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on September 1, 2021. He made his major league debut on September 8, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the San Diego Padres.

On June 26, 2022, Ortega recorded his first major league save, pitching the final two innings of a 2–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. He was designated for assignment on December 22, following the signing of Brandon Drury.

Minnesota Twins
On January 6, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. On January 10, Ortega was designated for assignment by Minnesota following the acquisition of A. J. Alexy. On January 17, Ortega cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. In 16 games for the St. Paul, Ortega recorded a 2.42 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 2 saves in $22 1⁄3$ innings of work. On June 20, the Twins selected his contract to the major league roster. In 10 games for Minnesota, he logged a 4.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts in $14 2⁄3$ innings pitched. On August 24, Ortega was placed on the injured list with a left lumbar strain. He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 28, ending his season.

Houston Astros
On October 25, 2023, Ortega was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros. On March 21, 2024, it was announced that Ortega would miss three to four months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. On June 26, Ortega underwent season–ending surgery to remove a bone spur from the same elbow.