Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 Ortiz was signed by the
Pittsburgh Pirates as an international
free agent out of the
Dominican Republic on October 2, 2018, for a $25,000
signing bonus. He made his professional debut 2019 for the rookie–level
Bristol Pirates, logging a 4.09
earned run average (ERA) across 11 starts. Ortiz did not play in a game in 2020 because the
minor league season was canceled by the
COVID-19 pandemic. Ortiz spent the 2021 season with the Single–A
Bradenton Marauders, making 22 appearances (19 starts) and recording a 3.09 ERA with 113 strikeouts in innings of work. By late 2021, his
fastball had reached as high as . On July 15 and August 9, 2022, while pitching for the Double–A
Altoona Curve, Ortiz threw two
immaculate innings in a span of just 25 days, four fewer than the shortest known span between such innings by a Major League pitcher. Ortiz made 26 total appearances (25 starts) split between Altoona and the Triple–A
Indianapolis Indians in 2022. In a career–high innings pitched, he accumulated a 5–9 record and 4.56 ERA with 138 strikeouts. Ortiz was promoted to the majors for the first time on September 11, 2022. Pirates general manager
Ben Cherington told the press that the club intended to use the remainder of the season to assess the quality of starting pitching in their organization. Ortiz made 4 starts during his rookie campaign, posting an 0–2 record and 4.50 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. Ortiz was optioned to the Triple-A
Indianapolis Indians to begin the 2023 season. He was recalled to the Pirates on May 9. In 18 games (15 starts) for Pittsburgh, Ortiz compiled a 5–5 record and 4.78 ERA with 59 strikeouts across innings pitched. Ortiz made 37 appearances (15 starts) for the Pirates in 2024, accumulating a 7–6 record and 3.32 ERA with 107 strikeouts and 1
saves across innings pitched.
Cleveland Guardians On December 10, 2024, the Pirates traded Ortiz,
Michael Kennedy, and
Josh Hartle to the
Cleveland Guardians for
Spencer Horwitz. ==Gambling allegations, indictment and arrest==