Morning Rundown: Luis Ortiz caps off 2024 season with win
Morning Rundown: Luis Ortiz caps off 2024 season with win
Ortiz pitches seven innings in last start of the season
After bringing in Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved Luis Ortiz to the bullpen to begin the 2024 season. While some may be frustrated by this, Ortiz embraced the role and pitched effectively whenever called upon.
Eventually, he was called to take a spot in the rotation, and he never let go of it.
Ortiz capped off a fantastic 2024 season with another brilliant start, tossing seven one-run innings, striking out five while walking just one.
He ended up with his seventh win on the season, and the outing dropped his ERA to 3.32.
After bursting onto the scene at the end of the 2022 season, Ortiz struggled to replicate that success last year. He entered the season in a competition for a rotation spot, and he got beaten out by Jared Jones (plus Bailey Falter).
Ortiz continued to rely on the slider as his primary pitch, throwing a four-seam, sinker, and cutter behind it to give hitters a different look.
Baseball Savant had him throwing the cutter 19.3% of the time, and when it came to Run Value was tied with his fastball for his best pitch.
Getting the four-seamer to play up more was a big turnaround for Ortiz, as it went from one of the worst in all of baseball to a solid offering this year.
Ortiz certainly made a strong case to be in the rotation next year, and the Pirates could have some of the best depth in baseball in 2025:
Paul Skenes
Jared Jones
Mitch Keller
Bailey Falter
Luis Ortiz
That’s how the rotation is ending the year for the Pirates. They will have Johan Oviedo returning next year from Tommy John. Four of their top pitching prospects also figure to factor in at some point—Bubba Chandler, Mike Burrows, Thomas Harrington, and Braxton Ashcraft.
They could always move one of these names to help boost the struggling hitting. Billy Cook and Nick Yorke look like they can at least be contributors in some fashion, and they were both brought in by the deadline.
In a league always looking for pitching, demand will be high for something the Pirates have plenty of in supply.
That has the Pirates dealing from a position of strength, with some leverage in their favor.
Ortiz could be a candidate to flip while his value is at its highest. Either way, what Ortiz did this year was terrific. There were quite a few moments where it bent but also never broke.
The Pirates needed to win three of their last five to tie last year’s win total, and Ortiz did his part to get them one step closer.
Which ‘did his part’ seems like a perfect way to sum up his 2024 season, and then some.
The rosters for the Arizona Fall League were announced on Wednesday, with the Pirates sending nine players out west to participate.
• Brandan Bidois, RHP
• Mike Burrows, RHP
• Khristian Curtis, RHP
• Derek Diamond, RHP
• Eddy Yean, RHP
•Geovanny Planchart, C
• Termarr Johnson, 2B
• Kervin Pichardo, INF
• Sammy Siani, OF
I will later have a more in-depth breakdown of each player for today’s feature.
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Top Exit Velocity
Liover Peguero - 104.9 mph - Double
Oneil Cruz - 101.7 mph - Groundout
Nick Gonzales - 101.6 mph - Groundout
Liover Peguero - 98.5 mph - Lineout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 96.7 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - 104 mph
Aroldis Chapman - 103.5 mph
Aroldis Chapman - 102.7 mph
Aroldis Chapman - 102.7 mph
Aroldis Chapman - 102.3 mph
Most Whiffs
Luis Ortiz - 7/41
Dennis Santana - 1/4
Aroldis Chapman - 1/9
I think that it is obvious that the Pirates need at least one, probably two bats in their lineup next year. Potentially they have an excellent rotation with some backups. It would be seriosly disappointing if they do not take advantage of this window of opportunity with Skenes, et al. I think that you deal from strength. Package one of Braxton, Harrington, Burrow, or even Jones with Temarr or Gonzo. Make it a two for one so the return is substantial. When the Pirates trade a good player and get a cast of thousands in return, I am skeptical (Taillon, Musgrove, Cole trades). Probably this could net a good and young and controllable outfielder. Then we have to depend on BC and the scouts to choose the right trade focus.
If BC was competent and interested in winning, this could be an interesting offseason. Lots of pitching depth and stagnating/mediocre-but-somewhat-valuable position players to be moved for actual offense. I would think Ortiz, Falter, Burrows, Ashcraft, Harrington, Gonzales, Peguero, Hank, Triolo, and maybe even Jones could be in play.