PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He showed it a little at the end of last season and right-handed starter Luis Ortiz is off to a good start this year at AAA Indianapolis. He was named the team’s Player of the Month for April.
The 24-year-old is fourth in the International League in ERA (2.31), third in WHIP (0.94) and third in batting average against (.169). He also has 26 strikeouts to 11 walks.
A number of fans and media expecting Ortiz to make the Pirates Opening Day roster, especially after the JT Brubaker injury. Bucs GM Ben Cherington said they noticed what he did at the end of last year, 17 strikeouts in 16 innings with the Pirates, a few times hitting triple-digits on his fastball, but also 10 walks.
“As we came out of camp, we had five starters ahead of him to break the season,” Cherington said on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network. “That doesn’t mean he can’t play a really important role for us in 2023. He’s doing the work to give himself a chance to do that.”
“He’s been working really hard since the Indy season started. He’s gotten his body in a good spot compared to where he was early in Spring Training. His delivery is into a better spot which is helping him command and execute his pitches more consistently. The performance has been good. He’s going in a really good direction.”