The Tigers have designated right-hander Jose Ortega for assignment to create 40-man roster space for right-hander Evan Reed, the Tigers announced (on Twitter).
The 25-year-old Ortega pitched just 1 1/3 innings in the Majors this season, yielding four runs despite not allowing a hit. Ortega walked four batters and hit another in this, his third brief stint with the Tigers. Over the past three seasons, the Venezuelan hurler has totaled 15 2/3 innings with Detroit, posting a 5.74 ERA and a 15-to-11 K/BB ratio.
Ortega’s Triple-A ERA is a slightly more encouraging 4.48 in 217 career innings at that level, though he’s battled control issues in the minors as well. He’s averaged a strong 8.8 K/9 in Triple-A, but he’s also averaged 6.1 walks per nine innings.
Ortega is a right handed relief pitcher.
Jose’s main issue has been his BB rate. 6.3 BB/9 in parts of three seasons in limited duty in the majors, and from 5.8 to 7.3 BB/9 in the minors over the past three seasons. His WHIP is north of 1.50 again this year, as it is for his career.
Ortega was probably on his way off the roster a year ago, but had a solid year in Toledo with a 1.86 ERA. He still walked over 5 batters per nine. If not now, he was destined to be removed from the roster by November.