Kaleb Ort back with the WooSox, adding a developed new pitch to his arsenal
WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott working with Ort on mechanics and a new pitch
Kaleb Ort has an elite fastball, in fact, his 99-100 mph was one of the main reasons the Red Sox selected him in the minor league portion of the 2020 Rule 5 draft.
Ort made his first major league roster this season and his 2023 season hasn’t gone to plan for the hard throwing right hander.
The Michigan native was optioned to Triple-A Worcester back on April 28 to make room for right-handed reliever Chris Martin. The 6-foot-8 reliever was activated from the 15-day injured list.
While with the Red Sox, Ort posted a 1-0 record with a 7.30 ERA, 12 strikeouts, 1.78 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings pitched over 12 games. Opponents are tattooing the ball off of him with a .308 batting average and he’s given up three homers. Including two against the Orioles back on April 25 in a low leverage situation. This resulted in manager Alex Cora having to use closer Kenley Jansen to earn a save.
Once Ort was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, he didn’t waste any time on getting there. He showed up immediately and got to work with WooSox pitching coach Paul Abbott.
Ort completed two bullpen sessions prior to being recalled again once Kutter Crawford landed on the injured list with a hamstring injury only a few days being back with Worcester.
During those two bullpen sessions, Abbott worked with Ort on adding a new pitch to his arsenal. Ort will be featuring a new cutter to play off his slider and devastating fastball.
“Ort moved over on the rubber, we have him over on the first base side now. We’re going to explore the benefits of throwing a cutter. It will go along with his slider and his fastball. It’s something for lefties to get into their hands. It’ll give him another weapon,” said Abbott.
Ort has been locked in with the WooSox staff on working on the new cutter and identifying things to help him get better and ultimately back with the Red Sox.
“The two sides he threw, he was pretty locked in on the cutter and that development. He’s getting used to being on the first base side,” added Abbott.
While he hasn’t pitched yet with the WooSox yet this season, the team will be in Rochester this week, Ort will get game action and he will debut the new cutter.
Ort’s pitching repertoire features a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. He predominantly features his fastball, throwing it 76.2% of the time and then uses his slider 21.3% and only has thrown the changeup six times. He gave up the two home runs off the slider in Baltimore and opposing batters are hitting .500 off that pitch this season.
The addition of the cutter will give him a different version of a fastball, one that will have movement. One knock on Ort has been his fastball is flat with no movement.
There is one thing for certain, the Red Sox are committed to seeing Ort succeed. The addition of the new cutter with the hopes it’ll play off his slider and fastball could get Ort back to Boston with the potential to be successful.
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