Meet the Jackfish: Teodoro Ortega
Welland Jackfish general manager Jason McKay rolled the dice when he made the decision to acquire pitcher Teodoro Ortega before the Intercounty Baseball League roster freeze last week.
The Jackfish were looking to add depth to their starting staff and considered reactivating Jake Hartford, who has been inactive all season, but MacKay instead decided to bring in the 24-year-old right-hander from his native Panama.
“It’s definitely a risk; It’s always a crapshoot,” McKay said when asked about adding imports. “We were within a sliver of not going with the unknown in Teodoro and going back to the known and reactivating Jake (Hartford).
“It just didn’t sit right. It felt like doing nothing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Ortega arrived in Welland last Saturday, met his teammates, then threw a bullpen before a game in Kitchener Sunday.
While impressive with his control in the side session, Ortega really turned heads in his Jackfish debut Wednesday in London, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, permitting only three hits while striking out seven.
“Jason had confidence he was going to be really good and he was right, he was spot on,” Jackfish manager Brian Essery said. “He threw strikes, didn’t walk anybody, attacked hitters. He has good poise on the mound and works quick.”
MaKay loved what he saw from Ortega in game action.
“It was an exhale,” McKay smiled. “He was just cruising in the bullpen.”
Ortega, who has touched 94 miles-per-hour with the fastball, was signed as a free agent by the Oakland A’s in 2017 and dealt to the Texas Rangers the following season. He has battled injuries and was released by the Rangers this spring before hooking on with the Jackfish.
“I feel very excited because of the team and the treatment. I’m excited to be part of it,” Ortega said through Jackfish catcher/ interpreter Robert Mullen.
Ortega would love to get back to pro ball down the road.
“In my mind I would like to keep playing here or go to the Independent League and after that it will depend if another team offers another opportunity,” he said.
Ortega, who needs five appearances to be eligible for the playoffs, is slated to toss an inning Sunday in Kitchener and then get a start Friday, August 9 in Hamilton.
Essery said Ortega will be a starter come playoff time with Brandon Marklund moving to the bullpen.
“When we saw him pitch we knew we got a good one,” Essery said. “We needed some stability in our starting rotation. We’ve moved Markland back to bullpen and he’s pretty dynamic in a one or two inning role. It really deepens our bullpen and makes us that much more dangerous for the playoffs.”
Essery said the team will go with a three-man rotation in the post-season with Brandon Underhill available as well to start.
“He’s the glue of our bullpen. I have so much confidence in him in any situation,” Essery said.
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