Joe La Sorsa
Position: LHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 232 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 04/29/1998
College: St. John’s University
Drafted: Drafted 18th round, 548th Overall, 2019 (Rays)
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
Bonus: $95,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2026
Options Left: 1
Overview
La Sorsa is a big lefty who doesn’t throw hard. He has a four seamer and sinker that sit around 92 mph. He also throws a change and a slider, with the latter possibly being his best pitch. La Sorsa generally has walked very few batters, but also hasn’t usually had high K rates. He’s had some problems with gopher balls. His platoon split has usually been moderate.
2019-22
La Sorsa moved up steadily through the Rays’ system. He pitched well in relief in short season ball after being drafted, posting a 2.23 ERA in 17 games, with very good control and not a lot of strikeouts. After missing 2020, he split 2021 between the two class A levels. In low A he had excellent numbers in relief: 2.41 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9. In high A he made six starts and six relief appearances, and had significant gopher ball problems. He gave up eight in 36.1 IP, leading to a 4.71 ERA.
In 2022, La Sorsa split the season between high A and AA, pitching in relief except for one start. He had a 1.62 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in high A, 3.15 and 0.85 in AA. He walked very few, and had a K/9 of 12.2 in high A and 8.9 in AA.
2023-25
After two games in AA in 2023, the Rays moved La Sorsa up to AAA. He wasn’t especially effective there, with a 1.57 WHIP and 5.6 K/9, but the Rays called him up at the end of May. In two games, he gave up a run in four and a third innings, then the Rays put him on waivers and the Nationals claimed him. He spent the rest of the season alternating between Washington and their AAA affiliate, appearing in 23 games for the former and a dozen in AAA. He had a 4.76 ERA for the Nationals, but his other numbers were better, including a 1.9 BB/9 and 1.24 WHIP.
La Sorsa spent most of 2024 in AAA and had good numbers except for a very low K/9 of 6.6. He had a 1.00 WHIP and 2.25 ERA. In 16 games in the majors, he had a 4.58 ERA, partly due to allowing a home run every four and a half innings.
Washington released La Sorsa in January 2025 and he signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati. He spent the majority of the season in AAA, putting up a 2.82 ERA in 45 games. He did have uncharacteristic control problems, walking 5.2 per nine innings. The Reds called La Sorsa up several times and he got into five games with them, giving up 13 hits and eight earned runs in 6.2 IP. The hits included four home runs. The Reds outrighted La Sorsa in early September and he elected free agency, then signed a minor league deal a few days later with the Mets. He got into four AAA games with them. After the season he became a free agent and quickly signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.
Stats
Transactions
June 3, 2019: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round, 548th overall pick; signed June 13.
May 28, 2023: Contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays.
June 8, 2023: Claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays by the Washington Nationals.
December 1, 2023: Outrighted to AAA by the Washington Nationals.
August 17, 2024: Called up by the Washington Nationals.
January 29, 2025: Released by the Washington Nationals.
February 4, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Cincinnati Reds.
June 3, 2025: Called up by the Cincinnati Reds.
September 5, 2025: Outrighted to AAA by the Cincinnati Reds; rejected assignment and chose free agency.
September 8, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the New York Mets.
November 6, 2025: Became a free agent.
November 7, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.