The Orioles have released right-hander Logan Ondrusek, tweets Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com. (The move was first noted on the Orioles’ Transactions page at MLB.com.) As Connolly reported at the time of Ondrusek’s deal with Baltimore, the 31-year-old’s $605K salary was not fully guaranteed, so by cutting him loose today, the Orioles won’t be responsible for that entire sum. Ondrusek has been battling elbow soreness and is slated to make the dreaded visit to Dr. James Andrews for further examination.
Ondrusek joined the Orioles midway through the 2016 season after beginning the year with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and pitching quite well. His overseas work resulted in a 2.45 ERA and a 29-to-11 K/BB ratio in 29 1/3 innings of work, which garnered enough interest from the Orioles to bring Ondrusek over on a Major League contract. However, the veteran righty wasn’t able to replicate that success with the O’s, surrendering seven runs in the 6 1/3 innings he spent with the big league club before being sent down to the minors. Baltimore declined a club option on Ondrusek this winter and later re-signed him to the aforementioned one-year deal.
Ondrusek’s 2016 season was his second pitching with Yakult and his second in which he enjoyed great success in Japan. Prior to his work there and with the Orioles, the former 13th-rounder spent five seasons as a member of the Reds’ bullpen. While he struggled in 2014, Ondrusek’s overall work with Cincinnati was typically solid, though he’s primarily been used in low-leverage situations throughout his MLB career. Even with unsightly numbers in 2014 and 2016, Ondrusek owns a career 4.03 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 277 innings.
Thank god, he is painful to watch
Seems similar to Chris Hatcher. Dodgers take notes
Boy, getting cut must be tough to Swallow.
(Get it? He played for the Yakult Swallows… all right, I’ll leave, you don’t have to push!)
Are those North African Swallows? The kind that bring coconuts to the Britons?
What’s the policy on medical care? If he’s cut after the injury but prior to the surgery (if he needs it) is he covered, or on his own?
If he’s on his own it feels pretty scary I’d guess. I assume those ops don’t come cheap.
I’m sure the Orioles would cover it.
Oops, meant this as a reply to mike156
I hope so. Better be a rule, not a choice for the O’s, or…. If they didn’t pay, one way or another, it’d be pretty cruel. “Hey Logan, we’ve scheduled you an appointment with Dr. Andrews. Oh, and you’re cut. So don’t send us the bill. Good luck!” (door slams, hitting Ondrusek in the a$$)